WhatsApp just got a native Mac app that delivers a vastly superior experience than the current Electron-based app. It also supports up to eight people on video calls and 32 on audio calls.
Released Tuesday, WhatsApp’s new native Mac app makes it a better FaceTime alternative, as you can access almost the same set of features across your PC and phone.
WhatsApp’s new Mac app supports group video and audio calls
Besides adding support for group audio and video calls, the the new WhatsApp Mac app lets you join ongoing calls. If you use WhatsApp heavily for calling, you can even receive incoming call notifications with the app closed.
While WhatsApp supports group video calling with up to 32 people, the native new Mac app is limited to eight. This should still be good enough for most users, though. WhatsApp’s older Mac app was limited to one-on-one audio and video calls.
Redesigned WhatsApp app for Mac feels more intuitive to use
Compared to WhatsApp Web and the older Electron-based app, the native Mac app feels notably faster. It delivers the same experience you’d expect from any other app natively built for the Mac. Another major usability improvement is the ability to drag and drop files into the app’s window for easy sharing.
Like with using WhatsApp on companion devices, your messages remain end-to-end encrypted. The new Mac app also allows you to edit sent messages, react to chats and more. Only support for sending disappearing messages and view-once media is missing. That’s only available on your primary WhatsApp device.
WhatsApp’s Mac app is compatible with macOS Big Sur and newer. You can download it directly from WhatsApp’s website.
