WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. It offers a convenient way to stay in touch with friends, family and work contacts through one-on-one and group messaging. However, sometimes you may need to send the same message to multiple contacts at once without creating a group. This is where WhatsApp’s broadcast feature comes in handy, allowing you to send a single message to up to 256 people simultaneously.
But what if you want to message contacts without using WhatsApp’s broadcast list or group messaging options? There are a few handy tricks to send the same WhatsApp message to multiple chats at once without creating a group or broadcast list.
Ways to Message Multiple WhatsApp Contacts
Here are some methods to send a WhatsApp message to multiple contacts at the same time without broadcasts or groups:
Copy and Paste Message
The most straightforward way is to simply copy and paste your message into each individual chat. While this can be time consuming, it gives you the most control and privacy:
- Type out your message in one chat then tap and hold to bring up the copy option
- Open each contact’s chat you want to message and paste the copied text
- Customize the message for each recipient as needed before sending
Pros:
- Complete control over customizing each message
- Keep messages more private without groups/broadcasts
Cons:
- Very time consuming for larger contact lists
- Easy to lose track of who you’ve messaged
Best for: Short contact lists or personalized messages
Forward Message to Contacts
You can also forward an existing message to multiple chats:
- Open the chat with the message you want to forward
- Tap and hold the message bubble then tap Forward
- Select each contact you want to forward it to
- Edit the forwarded message as needed before sending
Pros:
- Faster than copying and pasting individually
- Lets you reuse an existing message
Cons:
- Original message shows it was forwarded
- Can’t customize each message separately
Best for: Resending the same message to multiple people
Export Chat and Import to Contacts
You can export a chat with the message you want to reuse and then import it to other contacts:
- In the chat, tap More > More > Export chat
- Choose without media to export just the text
- Open each contact’s chat you want to message
- Tap More > More > Import and select the exported chat
- Edit the message before sending if needed
Pros:
- Quickly reuse longer text messages
- Lets you edit each message before sending
Cons:
- More steps involved
- Only imports text, not media
Best for: Reusing long text messages
Use WhatsApp Business API
If you need to regularly message many contacts at once, using the WhatsApp Business API is an option:
- Lets you programmatically message users who have contacted your business account
- Requires coding skills or third-party tools to implement
- Must comply with WhatsApp’s usage policies
Pros:
- Automate sending messages to large contact lists
- Flexibility to customize messages
Cons:
- Setup requires technical expertise
- Only works with existing business contacts
Best for: Businesses with large WhatsApp user bases
Use Third-Party WhatsApp Automation Tools
If you need to regularly send broadcasts but want more customization than WhatsApp allows, third-party tools are an option:
- Tools like Chatmatic and Wassenger offer broadcast messaging features
- Let you customize messages while still batch sending
- Paid services with monthly subscription plans
Pros:
- Automate sending messages to multiple chats
- Customize each message separately
- Handle large contact lists
Cons:
- Must pay for subscription
- Limited functionality compared to WhatsApp Business API
Best for: Sending customized broadcasts without WhatsApp limits
WhatsApp Broadcast List Limitations
WhatsApp does provide a broadcast list feature to message multiple contacts at once, but it has some notable limitations:
- Broadcast lists only support up to 256 recipients
- You can’t customize messages for individual recipients
- No way to see who has received/read the message
- Recipients can reply privately or report your message
Due to the inability to customize messages and recipient limits, the broadcast list may not work for all mass messaging needs. The techniques in this article help provide more options.
Broadcast List Process
If you do want to utilize WhatsApp’s built-in broadcast list, here is the process:
- Open the WhatsApp chats tab and tap New Broadcast
- Select the contacts to include. Tap done when finished.
- Type your message. You can include emoji or media attachments.
- Tap send. Your message will be sent to all recipients.
Recipients will see your broadcast message like any other WhatsApp chat. They can reply privately to you or report your message if they wish.
Tips for Using Broadcast Lists
To make the most of WhatsApp’s broadcast list, keep these tips in mind:
- Name your broadcast list to easily find it later
- Get consent before adding contacts to a broadcast list
- Keep your message relevant and personalized as much as possible
- Avoid overusing broadcasts or your recipients may mute you
- Follow WhatsApp’s rules on appropriate broadcast content
Used properly, broadcast lists allow efficient communication to your contacts at scale. But for advanced use cases, the other techniques in this article can help send messages without WhatsApp broadcast limitations.
WhatsApp Group Messaging
WhatsApp also provides group messaging to send messages to up to 256 participants. Here’s an overview of using WhatsApp groups:
Group Messaging Process
- Open the Chats tab and tap New Group
- Enter a group name and select participants
- Tap the checkmark to create the group
- Type and send your message in the group chat window
All group members can view and reply to messages within the chat.
Group Messaging Considerations
WhatsApp groups have some important differences from broadcast lists:
- All participants can see each other’s replies and interact
- You can name groups and add/remove members later
- Messages display sender name instead of just your number
- Participants can leave the group chat if they wish
Groups work well for ongoing discussions with a defined member list. But for one-way broadcasts, the other techniques in this article may be preferable.
Conclusion
While WhatsApp provides broadcast and group messaging, sometimes you need to message multiple contacts without those default options. By copying messages manually, forwarding to recipients, exporting chats or using automation tools, you can send the same WhatsApp message to many chats without limits.
The right approach depends on your specific needs and how customized your messages need to be. But with the techniques in this guide, you have flexible options to reach multiple recipients on WhatsApp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a limit to how many chats I can forward a message to?
No, there is no limit on how many individual chats you can forward a message to using WhatsApp. You can select and forward a message to as many chats as you like.
Can I customize a message when forwarding to multiple chats?
Unfortunately no, WhatsApp does not allow customizing a forwarded message separately for each recipient. The same forwarded message will be sent to all the selected chats.
Do my contacts see each other’s identities if I use forwarding?
No, when forwarding a message to multiple chats, your contacts remain private and anonymous from each other. They will only see your number or name in the forwarded message, not the other recipients.
What happens if someone reports my forwarded message?
If multiple people report your forwarded message as spam or inappropriate, WhatsApp may limit your ability to forward messages in the future. Make sure any messages you forward comply with WhatsApp’s content policies.
Can I send a message to a mixed group of individual chats and broadcast lists?
No, WhatsApp does not allow combining individual chats and broadcast lists when forwarding messages. You would need to forward to the chats and broadcast lists separately.
Summary of Key Points
- Copy and paste a message to send individually to each contact’s chat
- Forward an existing message to multiple different chats
- Export a chat and import it to contacts to reuse longer messages
- Leverage the WhatsApp Business API or third-party tools to automate customized broadcasts
- WhatsApp broadcast lists only support up to 256 recipients and don’t allow message customization
- WhatsApp groups allow open discussion between members but aren’t ideal for one-way broadcasts
Using the techniques in this guide, you can work around WhatsApp’s limitations and send messages to many contacts without needing a broadcast list or group. Carefully sending messages this way allows you to reach a wider audience while personalizing content for each recipient.