How to Create WhatsApp Broadcast List?

Too Long? Read This First ● A WhatsApp Broadcast List lets you message up to 256 contacts privately. ● Recipients must save your number to receive broadcast messages. ● You can create Broadcast Lists on both WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business. ● Broadcast Lists are ideal for updates, offers, and announcements. ● You can edit, rename, and delete Broadcast Lists anytime. ● Broadcast Lists don't support scheduling, automation, or analytics. ● The WhatsApp Business API is built for large-scale, personalized broadcasts. ● With AiSensy, you can send, automate, schedule, and track WhatsApp broadcasts using the official API.

Want to send the same WhatsApp message to hundreds of people at once? Don't want to create a group where everyone can see each other?

Are you looking for a simple way to reach your customers without sending messages one by one?

If these are the issues you have been facing and seeking a solution, then you have come to the right place. 

This is where we introduce WhatsApp Broadcast List. 

Now, we all know what WhatsApp Broadcast is but you must be thinking ‘What is broadcast list in WhatsApp?’.  

To answer your question, a WhatsApp broadcast list lets you send a single message to multiple contacts while keeping every conversation private.
It's quick, easy, and works well for updates, offers, reminders, and announcements.

But how do you create one? And more importantly, is it the right option for your business?

Let’s just get into the details of this feature. 

What is a WhatsApp Broadcast List?

A WhatsApp Broadcast List is a feature that lets you send the same message to multiple contacts at once. Instead of sending messages one by one, you write the message once, and WhatsApp delivers it to everyone on your broadcast list.

And you know the best part? 

Every recipient receives the message as a personal chat. They cannot see who else received the message, and replies come back only to you.

You can simply use WhatsApp broadcast lists for sending:

• Product launches
• Discounts and offers
• Event invitations
• Business updates
• Reminders and announcements

Note* However, there is one thing that you must be aware of while using the broadcast list in WhatsApp. People will receive your broadcast messages only if they have saved your phone number in their contacts. 

If your number isn't saved, your message won't be delivered to them.

WhatsApp Broadcast List vs WhatsApp Group

Yes, a WhatsApp group is something that you can use to send the same message to multiple recipients at once. But the reasons why the broadcast list in WhatsApp works differently are stated below.

In simple words, you should use WhatsApp Broadcast List when you want to send the same message privately to multiple contacts.

Use a WhatsApp Group when everyone needs to interact with each other.

How to Create a WhatsApp Broadcast List on WhatsApp App

It’s no big deal. 

It only takes less than a few minutes to create a WhatsApp Broadcast List on WhatsApp. Though the steps are slightly different on Android and iPhone, the feature works the same way on both device platforms.

Follow the instructions below based on your device.

How to Create a WhatsApp Broadcast List on Android

If you have an Android phone and you wish to create a WhatsApp broadcast list, please follow the steps mentioned below:

1. Open WhatsApp on your Android device.

2. Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.

3. Select 'New Broadcast'. 

4. Choose the contacts you want to add to the Broadcast list.

5. Tap the green checkmark to create the list. 

6. Type your message and tap 'Send' button. 

That's it! 

Your message will be delivered as an individual chat to every contact in the WhatsApp broadcast list.

It’s as simple as that.

How to Create a WhatsApp Broadcast List on iPhone (iOS)

Now, the steps are slightly different for iPhone users. The steps to create broadcast list in WhatsApp on an iPhone are as follows:

1. Open WhatsApp on your iPhone. 

2. Tap 'Broadcast Lists' in the top-left corner of the Chats screen.

3. Tap ' New List'.

4. Select the contacts you want to send the broadcast to. 

5. Tap 'Create'.

6. Open the newly created Broadcast List, type your message and tap 'Send'. 

Your message will be sent separately to every contact, making it look like a personal 

conversation instead of a group message.

Note* However, only contacts who have your phone number saved in their mobile will receive your broadcast messages.

If there is someone who hasn’t saved your number, will not receive the message.

Quick Tips Before You Start

In order to ensure that your broadcasts reach your contacts, keep these points in mind:

• Your contacts must have saved your phone number.
• You can create multiple Broadcast Lists for different customer segments.
• Recipients cannot see who else received the message.
• Replies are sent only to you, not to everyone on the list.

How to Create a WhatsApp Broadcast List on the WhatsApp Business App

Yes, you read it right. The process is different when it comes to WhatsApp Business App. 

The WhatsApp Business app also lets you create Broadcast Lists. The process is almost identical to the regular WhatsApp app, but here is the catch, you get extra features such as Labels to organize your contacts.

We will now talk about how you can create a WhatsApp broadcast list while using the WhatsApp business app. Again, the steps to create a WhatsApp broadcast list slightly differ as per the OS you are using.

Below are the steps you can follow to create a broadcast list on both Android as well as iPhone. 

How to Create a WhatsApp Broadcast List on Android

Follow these steps if you're using WhatsApp Business on Android:

1. Open the WhatsApp Business app.
2. Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
3. Select New Broadcast.
4. Choose the contacts you want to include.
5. Tap the green checkmark to create the Broadcast List.
6. Type your message and tap Send.

Your message will be delivered as an individual chat to every selected contact.

How to Create a WhatsApp Broadcast List on iPhone (iOS)

If you're using WhatsApp Business on an iPhone and want to create a WhatsApp broadcast list, please follow the steps mentioned below:

1. Open the WhatsApp Business app.
2. Tap '+' sign on top right corner of the Chats screen.
3. Select 'New Broadcast List'.
4. Choose the contacts you want to add.
5. Tap Create.
6. Open the list, type your message, and tap Send.

Each recipient receives the message privately, just like a normal WhatsApp conversation.

Note* However, only contacts who have your phone number saved in their mobile will receive your broadcast messages.

If there is someone who hasn’t saved your number, will not receive the message.

Bonus Tip: Send Broadcasts Using Labels in WhatsApp Business

One of the biggest advantages of the WhatsApp Business app is Labels. They help you organize your customers into different categories, making it easier to choose recipients for your Broadcast Lists.

For example, you can create labels such as:

• New Customers
• Repeat Customers
• Pending Payments
• Completed Orders
• VIP Customers
• Leads

Once your contacts are organized, you can quickly identify the right audience before creating a Broadcast List. 

This saves time and helps you send more relevant messages.

Pro Tip: Labels do help you manage your contacts, but they don't automatically send broadcasts to an entire label. 

You'll still need to manually select the contacts from that label when creating a Broadcast List.

How to Edit, Manage & Delete a WhatsApp Broadcast List

Your work doesn't end after creating a WhatsApp Broadcast List. As your contacts grow, you may need to 

• Add new recipients
• Remove inactive ones
• Delete lists you no longer use

Here's how you can manage your Broadcast Lists on WhatsApp.

Add or Remove Contacts from a Broadcast List

Need to update your Broadcast List? This is something that you realize later on. There is no need to give too much thought into it, you can always easily edit the contacts anytime.

Please follow the steps mentioned below:

To add or remove contacts:

1. Open WhatsApp and go to your Broadcast List.
2. Tap the Broadcast List name at the top of the chat.
3. Select Edit Recipients (or the Edit option, depending on your device).
4. Add new contacts or remove existing ones.
5. Save your changes.

Note: Newly added contacts must also save your phone number to receive future broadcast messages.

Rename a Broadcast List

Want to organize multiple Broadcast Lists? Giving each one a meaningful name can make them easier to identify.

To rename a Broadcast List:

1. Open the Broadcast List.
2. Tap the Broadcast List name at the top.
3. Select Edit.
4. Enter the new name.
5. Save your changes.

You can use names like:

• Festival Offers
• VIP Customers
• New Leads
• Existing Customers
• Weekly Updates

Clear names make it easier to manage multiple lists.

Delete a Broadcast List

If you no longer need a Broadcast List, you can remove it in a few taps.

Here's how:

1. Open WhatsApp.
2. Go to the Broadcast Lists section (or open the Broadcast List you want to delete).
3. Open the list details.
4. Tap Delete Broadcast List.
5. Confirm your choice.

Deleting a Broadcast List removes only the list itself. Your contacts and chat history remain unchanged.

Can You Create a Broadcast List on WhatsApp Web or Desktop?

No. WhatsApp Web and the WhatsApp Desktop app do not let you create or manage Broadcast Lists.

Here's what you can and cannot do:

If you want to create, edit, or delete Broadcast Lists, you'll need to use the WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business mobile app.

Limitations of WhatsApp Broadcast Lists (WhatsApp App & WhatsApp Business App)

A WhatsApp Broadcast List is great for sending messages to multiple people. But as your business grows, its limitations become hard to ignore.

If you want to reach thousands of customers, automate conversations, or measure campaign performance, a Broadcast List won't be enough.

Let's look at the biggest limitations.

256 Contact Limit Per List

• Each WhatsApp Broadcast List can include up to 256 contacts.
• If you have a larger customer base, you'll need to create multiple lists and send the same message repeatedly. This quickly becomes difficult to manage.

Recipients Must Save Your Number

This is one of the biggest drawbacks of using a Broadcast List.

Your message will only be delivered if the recipient has saved your phone number in their contacts. 

Even if someone has shared their number with you, they won't receive your broadcast unless your number is saved on their device.

For businesses, this often leads to:

• Lower message reach
• Missed promotional opportunities
• Poor campaign performance

No Message Personalization

Every recipient receives the exact same message.

You can't personalize broadcasts with details like:

• Customer name
• Order ID
• Appointment date
• Product recommendations
• Loyalty points

This makes your communication feel less relevant and less engaging.

No Campaign Analytics

After sending a Broadcast List message, you get very little insight into its performance.

You can't track metrics such as:

• Total messages delivered
• Delivery rate
• Read rate
• Click-through rate
• Conversions

Without analytics, it's difficult to understand what's working and what needs improvement.

No Scheduling

Want to send your messages at the perfect time?

Unfortunately, WhatsApp Broadcast Lists don't support message scheduling.

You'll have to send every campaign manually, which isn't practical if you regularly communicate with customers or run time-sensitive promotions.

Check Here - How to schedule WhatsApp Broadcast

No Automation or Integrations

Broadcast Lists are designed for manual messaging.

They don't support:

• Automated customer journeys
• Welcome messages
• Abandoned cart reminders
• Order updates
• CRM integrations
• E-commerce platform integrations

As your business scales, manually sending messages becomes increasingly time-consuming.

Check Here - WhatsApp Automation

No CTA or Quick Reply Buttons

Broadcast messages sent from the WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app are plain text or media messages.

You can't add interactive features like:

• Call-to-Action (CTA) buttons
• Quick Reply buttons
• Product carousels
• Forms
• Interactive message templates

As a result, customers have to type their responses manually, adding extra steps to every interaction.

Risk of Getting Reported or Blocked

Sending too many promotional messages can lead to recipients blocking or reporting your number.

If enough users report your broadcasts as spam, WhatsApp may temporarily restrict your messaging capabilities or, in serious cases, suspend your account.

To reduce this risk:

• Send messages only to people who have opted in.
• Share relevant and valuable content.
• Avoid sending too many promotional messages in a short period.
• Give customers an easy way to stop receiving updates.

As long as you follow WhatsApp's guidelines and message customers responsibly, you can significantly reduce the chances of your account being restricted.

Read About - How to Unban a WhatsApp Number

What's the Alternative? WhatsApp Broadcasting via WhatsApp Business API

If you're sending messages to more than a few hundred customers, a WhatsApp Broadcast List will eventually hold you back.

So, what's the alternative?

The WhatsApp Business API is designed for growing businesses that want to reach customers at scale. It makes it easy to send broadcast campaigns at scale. 

You can reach thousands of opted-in customers while using automation, personalization, and analytics to improve your results. 

Here's what you can do with the WhatsApp Business API:

• Broadcast messages to a large audience
• Personalize messages using customer details
• Schedule campaigns in advance
• Track campaign performance with detailed analytics
• Automate customer conversations
• Connect with your CRM, Shopify, WooCommerce, and other business tools
• Add interactive CTA buttons, Quick Reply buttons, and rich media to messages

The catch? You can't access the WhatsApp Business API directly through the WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app.

You'll need to work with an official Meta Business Solution Provider (BSP).

Why You Need an Official Meta Business Solution Provider (BSP)

A Meta Business Solution Provider (BSP) helps businesses get access to the official WhatsApp Business API without dealing with the technical complexities.

AiSensy is one such BSP that helps you get access to the official WhatsApp Business API provided by Meta.

Instead of building and managing the API yourself, AiSensy gives you the platform where you can create campaigns, automate conversations, manage contacts, and monitor performance from a single dashboard.

Most BSPs also help with:

• WhatsApp Business API onboarding
• Number verification
• Template message approvals
• Campaign management
• Automation and chatbot setup
• Analytics and reporting
• Ongoing technical support

This makes it much easier to start using the WhatsApp Business API, even if you don't have a development team.

Broadcast List vs WhatsApp Business API

Both options let you send messages on WhatsApp, but they're built for very different use cases.

If you only send occasional updates to a small customer base, a WhatsApp Broadcast List may be enough.

But if you want to automate customer engagement, improve campaign performance, and grow your business on WhatsApp, the WhatsApp Business API is the better long-term solution.

How to Send a WhatsApp Broadcast with AiSensy (Official Meta BSP)

Ready to send your first WhatsApp broadcast?

With AiSensy, you can reach thousands of opted-in customers through the official WhatsApp Business API. You also get powerful features like AI-powered template creation, audience segmentation, campaign scheduling, analytics, and retargeting-all from one dashboard.

Here's how to get started.

Step 1 - Sing-up and Login to AiSensy

The first and foremost step is to signup to AiSensy and log in to your account. 

Make sure your WhatsApp Business API is fully approved and active. Once your WhatsApp API is active, you will be able to send WhatsApp broadcast messages without any issues.

Step 2 - Upload & Import Your Contacts

The first step is to import your customer list into AiSensy.

Go to the Contacts section and upload your opted-in contacts using a CSV file. You can also sync contacts directly from your CRM or other integrated tools.

To keep your audience organized, you can assign:

• Tags (e.g., New Leads, Existing Customers)
• Custom attributes
• Customer segments

This makes it much easier to target the right people later.

Tip: Import only customers who have given you permission to receive WhatsApp messages.

Step 3 - Create Your Template Message with AI

Next, create the message you'll send.

Head to the Broadcast section and create a new campaign. You can either use an existing approved WhatsApp template or create a new one and submit it for Meta's approval.

To make your campaign more engaging, you can:

• Generate content using AI
• Personalize messages with customer variables like name or location
• Add images, videos, or documents
• Include CTA Buttons and Quick Reply Buttons
• Send carousel messages with multiple products or offers

The more relevant your message is, the better your chances of getting replies and conversions.

Step 4 - Filter & Select Your Contacts

Not every campaign should go to every customer.

AiSensy lets you build highly targeted audiences using advanced filters. You can segment contacts based on:

• Tags
• Custom attributes
• User behavior
• Previous campaigns
• Customer interactions

This ensures your broadcast reaches the people who are most likely to engage with it.

Step 5 - Send Your Broadcast

Once your campaign is ready, it's time to send it.

You can either:

• Send it immediately, or
• Schedule it for a future date and time.

AiSensy allows you to schedule broadcasts up to two months in advance, making it easy to plan launches, festive campaigns, reminders, and recurring promotions.

Your messages are then delivered through the official WhatsApp Business API, helping you reach customers reliably and at scale.

Step 6 - Track Your Broadcast Analytics & Retarget

Your campaign doesn't end after you click Send.

AiSensy provides real-time analytics so you can monitor how your broadcasts are performing. Track metrics such as:

• Messages sent
• Delivery rate
• Read rate
• Clicks
• Replies
• Failed deliveries

Want even better results?

Use Retargeting Campaigns to re-engage customers based on how they interacted with your previous broadcasts. For example, you can target users who:

• Read your message but didn't reply
• Clicked your CTA button
• Replied to a previous campaign
• Didn't engage at all

This helps you send more relevant follow-up messages, improve engagement, and maximize conversions from every WhatsApp campaign.

Broadcast List or WhatsApp Business API - Which One Do You Need?

Still wondering which option is right for your business?

The answer depends on how many customers you want to reach and how you plan to communicate with them.

If you're a small business with a limited customer base, a WhatsApp Broadcast List can help you send occasional updates. But if you want to automate conversations, personalize campaigns, and scale your marketing, the WhatsApp Business API is the better choice.

Here's a quick comparison.

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose a WhatsApp Broadcast List if you:

• Have a small customer base.
• Send updates occasionally.
• Don't need automation or campaign insights.
• Are comfortable sending broadcasts manually.

Choose the WhatsApp Business API if you:

• Want to reach hundreds or thousands of customers.
• Need to personalize every message.
• Want to schedule campaigns in advance.
• Rely on analytics to improve performance.
• Need automation, chatbots, or CRM integrations.
• Plan to grow your WhatsApp marketing over time.

In simple words, a WhatsApp Broadcast List is a good choice for businesses with basic messaging needs. But if you're looking to scale your customer communication, the WhatsApp Business API offers the flexibility, automation, and insights needed to grow efficiently.

Conclusion

A WhatsApp Broadcast List is a great way to send updates, offers, and announcements to a small audience. But if you want to reach more customers, automate campaigns, personalize messages, and track results, the WhatsApp Business API is the better choice.

Ready to take your WhatsApp marketing to another level?

Sign up for AiSensy today and start sending powerful WhatsApp broadcasts with the official WhatsApp Business API.

Get Started

FAQs

What is a WhatsApp Broadcast List?

How many contacts can I add to a WhatsApp Broadcast List?

Do recipients need to save my number to receive broadcast messages?

Can I create a WhatsApp Broadcast List on WhatsApp Business?

Can I create a WhatsApp Broadcast List on WhatsApp Web or Desktop?

What's the difference between a WhatsApp Broadcast List and a WhatsApp Group?

Can I schedule messages in a WhatsApp Broadcast List?

Can I personalize messages in a WhatsApp Broadcast List?

What is the best alternative to a WhatsApp Broadcast List?

Which is better: WhatsApp Broadcast List or WhatsApp Business API?

Do people know they are in a WhatsApp Broadcast List?

Where can I see my WhatsApp Broadcast List?

How does a WhatsApp Broadcast List work?

How can I broadcast to 1,000 contacts on WhatsApp?

Quick Links

• Send WhatsApp Broadcast (Officially) via WhatsApp Business API
• How to Broadcast WhatsApp Messages in AiSensy App?
• How to see the Analytics of a WhatsApp Campaign?
• WhatsApp Broadcast 2026 : Benefits, Use Cases & Best Practices
• What are the Rules of Sending WhatsApp Broadcast?
• How to Schedule WhatsApp Broadcasts in AiSensy App?