WhatsApp is testing a feature that lets someone join a call from a secure web link without a WhatsApp account. Meta is late to the idea. Account-free calling has been standard elsewhere for years, and it matters more than the feature list suggests: a one-off interview, a short-term contractor, a client who does not want to hand over a phone number, a family member on a borrowed laptop. Every one of those calls stalls the second the host asks the other side to install an app and register.
We put together the best apps for no-account video calls on Android for exactly that reader. The host runs the app. The guest clicks a link, allows camera and mic, and joins. No sign-up, no phone number, and in most cases no app install on the guest side at all.
What to look for
Five things separate a real guest-friendly caller from one that just claims to be:
- Guest-link joining. The host generates a URL, the guest opens it, the call starts. No account creation screen in the middle.
- End-to-end encryption where the app offers it. Not every service does E2E on group calls. Check the fine print before you assume.
- Screen share. Table stakes for interviews, tutoring, and support calls. If it is behind a paywall, that matters.
- No phone number required. A guest link should not ask the joiner to verify a number to enter the room.
- Works in a mobile browser. The guest is often on a phone. If the link forces an app install on iOS or Android, the flow breaks.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | E2E | Guest join | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jitsi Meet | Open-source calls with no friction | Unlimited on meet.jit.si | Yes (1:1 and group beta) | Yes, link | Android, iOS, Web, Desktop |
| Google Meet | Mainstream browser-friendly calls | 60 min group | Yes (default) | Yes, link | Android, iOS, Web |
| Zoom | Scheduled meetings with a wide guest list | 40 min group | Optional | Yes, link | Android, iOS, Web, Desktop |
| Whereby | Simple room links with no install | 45 min group | Yes | Yes, link | Android, iOS, Web |
| Signal | Private calls when both sides install it | Unlimited | Yes (always) | No, contact required | Android, iOS, Desktop |
| Discord | Gaming and casual group hangouts | Unlimited | No (transport only) | Yes, server invite | Android, iOS, Web, Desktop |
| Element | Decentralized calls without a phone number | Unlimited on matrix.org | Yes | Yes, room link | Android, iOS, Web, Desktop |
1. Jitsi Meet – best overall
Jitsi is the closest thing to a default answer here. The hosted service at meet.jit.si is free, needs no account on either side, and generates a room from a URL you can name yourself. The Android app is a wrapper on the same rooms, so a host on the phone and a guest in a laptop browser land in the same call with camera, mic, screen share, hand raise, and text chat. End-to-end encryption is on by default for 1:1 calls and available in beta for group calls.
Where it falls short: Public rooms can be found by guessing the name. Set a password on anything you would not want a stranger walking into. Video quality at large group sizes lags behind Google Meet on the same connection.
Pricing: Free on meet.jit.si. Self-hosting is free and open source. Jitsi as a Service (JaaS) is paid for developers embedding it.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: Aptoide | Google Play | App Store
Bottom line: If the goal is “send a link, join a call, nobody signs up for anything,” this is the shortest path.
2. Google Meet – best mainstream
Google Meet is the safest choice when the guest is a client, a teacher, or anyone who has probably used a Google product before. The host creates a meeting from the Meet app, shares the URL, and the guest joins from Chrome or Safari on any phone. Guests can ask to join without a Google account, and the host lets them in with a tap. Encryption is on by default in transit, and Meet offers optional end-to-end for one-on-one calls.
Where it falls short: Group calls over three people are capped at 60 minutes on the free tier. Guest joiners without a Google account cannot be admitted if the host also lacks one, which is rare but does happen.
Pricing: Free with a Google account. Google Workspace plans start at a modest monthly fee per user for longer calls and recording.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web.
Download: Aptoide | Google Play | App Store
Bottom line: Best when the person on the other end has no patience for a new app and is already inside a browser.
3. Zoom – best for scheduled meetings
Zoom still wins on the sheer variety of people who will recognize the link. The host can create a meeting, share a URL, and the guest joins through a browser without a Zoom account for meetings that permit it. The Android app handles host duties well, including screen share, breakout rooms, and a waiting room to gate who comes in. End-to-end encryption is available but off by default and disables some features when enabled.
Where it falls short: Free plan caps group calls at 40 minutes. The “join from browser” link is buried on some meetings; hosts have to enable it in settings. The app is heavier than Meet or Jitsi.
Pricing: Free with the 40-minute cap. Pro tier removes the cap for a modest monthly fee.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: Aptoide | Google Play | App Store
Bottom line: Reach for it when the meeting is on a calendar and the guest list is bigger than three people.
4. Whereby – best simple room link
Whereby’s whole pitch is one persistent room per host. The URL never changes, the guest opens it in a browser, and the call starts. No app install on either side is required, though the Android app makes hosting from a phone easier. Rooms include screen share, chat, and simple layouts. End-to-end encryption is enabled on all calls.
Where it falls short: Free plan tops out at 45 minutes and a small guest count. Advanced features (recording, breakout groups, background blur on lower plans) are paid. The Android app is not as polished as the browser client.
Pricing: Free for solo hosts with the time cap. Paid tiers start at a modest monthly fee.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web.
Download: Aptoide | Google Play | App Store
Bottom line: The lowest-friction pick for a recurring one-on-one, like weekly tutoring or a therapy session, where the room URL becomes muscle memory.
5. Signal – best when both sides do install it
Signal is the honest exception on this list. It does not offer a guest link, and both people need the app and a phone number. It earns its spot because the encryption is always on, the code is open source, and the call quality has quietly caught up with the mainstream services. If the conversation itself is sensitive (a source, a legal matter, medical talk) the extra install is a price worth paying.
Where it falls short: No web guest link. Phone number is required at sign-up, though usernames now let you contact people without exposing yours.
Pricing: Free. Signal is a nonprofit and takes no ads.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: Aptoide | Google Play | App Store
Bottom line: Not a guest-link tool, but the right answer when both sides care about privacy more than convenience.
6. Discord – best for gaming and casual groups
Discord’s server invite link doubles as a call invite. Guests join a voice or video channel with no phone number, no email verification for a temporary account, and no app install if they use the browser client. Screen share is generous on the free tier, video quality is good, and hanging out is the actual design goal, so there is no time cap staring at anyone.
Where it falls short: Calls are not end-to-end encrypted. Discord holds server-side keys for voice and video, which is fine for a game night and wrong for anything confidential.
Pricing: Free. Nitro is optional and adds cosmetic and streaming perks for a modest monthly fee.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: Aptoide | Google Play | App Store
Bottom line: Pick it when the “call” is really a hangout, and encryption is not the point.
7. Element (Matrix) – best decentralized
Element runs on the Matrix protocol, which means the room lives on a server the host chooses. The public matrix.org homeserver takes no phone number, and creating a room and sharing its link gets a guest into a video call from a browser or the mobile app. Calls are end-to-end encrypted, screen share works, and the whole stack is open source.
Where it falls short: More setup friction than the top of the list. Guests who have never used Matrix need a minute to figure out how to accept the room invite. Group video is still catching up on stability compared to Jitsi.
Pricing: Free on matrix.org. Self-hosting is free. Element Business plans are paid for organizations.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: Aptoide | Google Play | App Store
Bottom line: The right pick for anyone who cares that the server itself is not owned by a US ad company.
How to pick
Match the app to what the call actually is.
- A one-off interview or intake call with a stranger. Jitsi Meet or Whereby. The guest gets a link, opens it in a browser, and the call runs. No account, no install.
- A meeting with a client who already lives in Google or Zoom. Google Meet if it will fit in 60 minutes, Zoom if it will not and the host is on the paid tier.
- A weekly recurring one-on-one. Whereby, because the room URL never changes and both sides bookmark it.
- A sensitive conversation with a source, a lawyer, or a doctor. Signal, if both sides can install it. End-to-end encryption is not optional here.
- A casual video hangout with friends or teammates. Discord. It has no time limit and screen share is generous.
- A privacy-first call where the host wants to control the server. Element on a self-hosted Matrix homeserver, or matrix.org for a public room.
Above all, do not pick the app the host loves. Pick the one the guest will manage to join on the first try.
FAQ
Can you really join a video call without any account? Yes, on Jitsi Meet, Google Meet, Zoom (when the host enables browser join), Whereby, Discord, and Element. The host still needs an account on most of them, but the guest does not.
Are these calls end-to-end encrypted? Jitsi, Whereby, Signal, and Element are E2E encrypted by default or across all calls. Google Meet is E2E for one-on-one calls and encrypted in transit for group calls. Zoom offers E2E as an opt-in. Discord is not E2E encrypted.
Do guests need to install the Android app to join? No. Jitsi Meet, Google Meet, Zoom, Whereby, Discord, and Element all support joining from a mobile browser on Android or iOS. Signal is the exception – it requires the app on both sides.
Which app has no time limit on the free plan? Jitsi Meet, Signal, Discord, and Element have no time cap. Google Meet caps group calls at 60 minutes on free, Zoom at 40 minutes, and Whereby at 45 minutes.
What is the WhatsApp feature that started this conversation? Meta is testing a way for someone without a WhatsApp account to join a call from a secure web link. It works from a browser, and the joiner does not need to install WhatsApp or hand over a phone number. The apps in this list already do the same thing today.
Is a phone number required for any of these? Only Signal. WhatsApp (once the feature ships) will still require the host to have an account with a number, but the guest will not. Every other app on this list can be used without exposing a phone number to the other party.
