You have news for your customers — a new stock, a sale, a holiday. WhatsApp gives you three free ways to send it: a Channel, a broadcast list or a group. They look similar but work very differently. Here is a simple guide to WhatsApp Channel vs broadcast vs group for a business.
The short answer
- Channel — one-way updates to anyone who follows you. Good for reaching new people.
- Broadcast list — a private message to each customer, up to 256 at a time. Good for a small, loyal list.
- Group — everyone talks to everyone, up to 1,024 members. Good for a community, not for offers.
WhatsApp Channel
A Channel lives in the Updates tab. People follow it, like they follow a page. You post; they see it. They can react with an emoji, but they cannot reply with a message.
- Good: no limit on followers, and followers do not see each other's numbers.
- Not so good: updates do not arrive as a chat, so many followers miss them. You cannot talk to one customer from the Channel.
Use a Channel to share news, new designs or tips with people who do not have your number yet.
Broadcast list
A broadcast sends the same message to many contacts, but each person gets it as a normal private chat. When they reply, only you see it.
- Good: feels personal, and replies come to you.
- Not so good: only 256 contacts per list, and the message reaches only people who have saved your number. There is no report of who read it.
WhatsApp group
A group is a shared room. Everyone sees every message and every member's number.
- Good: great for a small club, a class or a team.
- Not so good: customers see each other's numbers, chats get noisy, and many people mute or leave. Adding strangers to a group is also a common reason for reports.
Avoid groups for sales offers. Use them only where members really want to talk to each other.
When you need more than these three
If you have thousands of customers, want each message to arrive as a private chat, and need to know who read it, the official WhatsApp Business API is the next step.
- Send one approved message to thousands of opted-in contacts, even if they have not saved your number.
- Each reply comes into a shared inbox your team can answer.
- A report shows delivered, read and replied.
Many Indian businesses now use a mix: a Channel to grow followers, the API for offers and updates to customers, and small groups for loyal communities.
A simple rule
Strangers → Channel. Customers → broadcast or API. Community → group. Whatever you use, send only to people who asked, and keep messages few and useful.
See how bulk messages work on the official API or our WhatsApp Business API plans from ₹790 a month.
Sources: WhatsApp Help Center and 2026 business guides comparing Channels, broadcast lists and groups.
FAQs
What is the difference between a WhatsApp Channel and a broadcast list?
A Channel is a one-way feed in the Updates tab that anyone can follow; followers cannot reply with messages. A broadcast list sends a private chat to up to 256 contacts, and replies come to you.
Why do some customers not get my broadcast message?
A broadcast reaches only people who have saved your number in their phone. Others will not receive it.
Is a WhatsApp group good for business offers?
Usually not. Members see each other's numbers, chats get noisy, and many people mute or leave. Groups suit communities, not sales messages.
How can I message more than 256 customers at once?
Use the official WhatsApp Business API. It sends approved templates to thousands of opted-in contacts, with delivery and read reports.
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