WhatsApp broadcast list vs group: which one should you use?
A broadcast list sends private messages to up to 256 contacts; a group puts up to 1,024 people in one chat. Compare replies, privacy, limits and use cases.
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Use a broadcast list when you want to tell many people something and hear back one to one. Use a group when you want people to talk to each other. A broadcast list reaches up to 256 contacts who saved your number and their replies come to you privately; a group holds up to 1,024 members, who see each other's replies and numbers.
| Question | Broadcast list | Group |
|---|---|---|
| Who can reply, and where | Anyone, privately to you | Any member, to everyone, unless admins restrict it |
| Maximum people | 256 contacts per list; as many lists as you like | 1,024 members |
| Who receives it | Only contacts who saved your number | Anyone you add or who joins by link |
| Can people see each other | No | Yes, names and numbers |
| Can people leave | They can block you or delete the chat | They can exit |
| Linked devices | Cannot be created or viewed on a linked device; the phone sends them | Works on linked devices |
Which one fits which job?
- Order updates, stock alerts, appointment reminders: a broadcast list, so replies are private.
- A class, a team, a neighbourhood: a group.
- A launch where you want comments visible: a group, with Send new messages off if you only want to announce.
- A very large audience: a channel or a community, not a list.
What are the limits?
Broadcast messages reach only people who have your number saved. WhatsApp tests a monthly limit on broadcast messages in some places. Groups are bounded by 1,024 members. For the rules in full, see broadcast limits and WhatsApp group limits.
To send one message to many groups at once, or one personalised message per row of a list, you need a tool built for it; WhatsApp's own forward limit is five chats at a time.
WavesFlo does both jobs from numbers you already run: a group campaign posts into the groups those numbers belong to, paced per number, and an announcement sends one personalised message per row of a CSV, as set out in group campaigns and announcements. Each number stays linked from its own phone, so replies to either come back to the team rather than to one handset.
Questions
What is the difference between a broadcast list and a group?
A broadcast list sends private messages that people reply to you alone; a group is one shared conversation.
How many people can I add to a broadcast list?
256 contacts per list, and only those who saved your number receive it.
Can recipients see each other?
No, not in a broadcast list.