WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a mobile-first messaging and calling service owned by Meta. People use it to exchange text, voice notes, photos and files, and to make voice and video calls with friends, family and colleagues in many countries. The service is free to use, though the vendor notes that mobile data charges from a carrier may apply.

The feature set covers one-to-one and group messaging, voice and video calls, group calls, Status updates, Channels for following broadcasts, and a Meta AI assistant. The vendor highlights end-to-end encryption for personal messages and calls, and it provides parental controls. WhatsApp apps are available for phones, with desktop and web clients also in common use.

A separate WhatsApp Business offering lets companies talk to customers on the same network. It is a closed, proprietary service run by Meta in the cloud, so there is no self-hosted option. It is listed here because many small teams and informal groups use it as their everyday chat tool, although it is not designed as a workplace collaboration suite.