Start a Group Chat in WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram

Why use a group chat?

Group chats are ideal when you want to communicate with several people at once. Whether you are organizing a family outing, coordinating a sports team or keeping in touch with friends, group chats make communication simpler and clearer than sending separate messages to everyone.

The three most popular messaging apps in the Netherlands for group chats are WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram. Each app has its own strengths: WhatsApp is the most widely used, Signal offers the best privacy, and Telegram has the most features for large groups.

Starting a group chat in WhatsApp

WhatsApp is by far the most popular messaging app in the Netherlands. Almost everyone has it, so groups usually get off the ground most easily here.

Creating a WhatsApp group on Android

1. Open WhatsApp
2. Tap the three dots in the top right
3. Select "New group"
4. Select the contacts you want to add (at least 1)
5. Tap the green arrow in the bottom right
6. Enter a group name (max 25 characters)
7. Optionally add a group photo
8. Tap the green check mark

Creating a WhatsApp group on iPhone

1. Open WhatsApp
2. Go to the "Chats" tab
3. Tap "New Group" at the top
4. Select the participants
5. Tap "Next"
6. Give the group a name and photo
7. Tap "Create"

WhatsApp group settings

As an admin you can adjust various settings:

1. Open the group
2. Tap the group name at the top
3. Scroll to "Group settings"

Important options:

• Edit group info: Decide who can change the name and photo
• Send messages: Limit who can send messages (handy for announcement groups)
• Add members: Decide whether all members can invite new people
• Download offline maps in Google Maps

WhatsApp group limits

• Up to 1024 participants per group
• Group video call with up to 32 people
• Group call (audio) with up to 32 people

Starting a group chat in Signal

Signal is the best choice when privacy matters. All group messages are end-to-end encrypted, and Signal collects minimal data.

Creating a Signal group

1. Open Signal
2. Tap the pencil icon (new message)
3. Select "New group"
4. Choose the contacts you want to add
5. Tap the arrow to continue
6. Enter a group name
7. Optionally add a group photo
8. Tap "Create"

Signal group features

Signal groups have unique privacy features:

• Group link: Create an invite link that you can share
• Approval for new members: Admins have to approve new members
• Disappearing messages: Set messages to be deleted automatically
• @mentions: Tag specific members with @

Changing group settings in Signal

1. Open the group
2. Tap the group name at the top
3. Here you can:

• Add or remove members
• Create or revoke a group link
• Assign admins
• Set up disappearing messages
• Leave the group

Signal group limits

• Up to 1000 participants per group
• Group video call with up to 40 people

Starting a group chat in Telegram

Telegram is ideal for large groups and offers the most features for managing groups.

Creating a Telegram group

1. Open Telegram
2. Tap the pencil icon (new message)
3. Select "New Group"
4. Choose at least one contact
5. Tap the arrow or "Next"
6. Enter a group name
7. Add a group photo (optional)
8. Tap the check mark to create the group

Telegram group types

Telegram distinguishes between two types of groups:

• Basic group: Up to 200 members, simple features
• Supergroup: Up to 200,000 members, extensive management options

A basic group automatically becomes a supergroup when you activate certain features or have more than 200 members.

Telegram group features

Telegram offers extensive options:

• Polls and quizzes: Create votes and questions
• Pinned messages: Keep important info visible
• Slow mode: Limit how often members can post
• Anti-spam: Automatic protection against spam
• Discussion threads: Reply in threads to keep things organized
• Admins with specific rights: Assign tasks to multiple admins

Group settings in Telegram

1. Open the group
2. Tap the group name at the top
3. Tap the pencil icon to edit

Important options:

• Group type: Public (discoverable) or private
• Chat history: Visible to new members or not
• Permissions: Decide what members can do (send messages, share media, etc.)
• Admins: Add admins with specific rights

Starting a group video call

All three apps support group video and audio calls.

Video call in WhatsApp

1. Open the group
2. Tap the phone icon in the top right
3. Select the participants you want to call
4. Tap the video icon for video or the phone icon for audio

Video call in Signal

1. Open the group
2. Tap the video icon in the top right
3. The call starts and members can join

Video call in Telegram

1. Open the group
2. Tap the group name
3. Tap "Video Chat" or "Voice Chat"
4. Choose "Start Video Chat"

Tips for effective group chats

A few practical tips to keep your groups running smoothly.

Clear group name and description

Choose a name that makes it immediately clear what the group is for. Add a description with the ground rules or the purpose of the group.

Set group rules

For larger groups it helps to agree on a few things:

• Which topics belong in the group?
• Are chain messages and spam allowed?
• At what times are messages welcome?

Use @mentions sparingly

Only tag people when it is really necessary. Too many notifications cause people to ignore or mute the group.

Make use of polls

Do you need to make a decision with the group? Use a poll instead of a long discussion. Telegram has this built in; for WhatsApp and Signal you can use external tools.

Keep the group up to date

Remove members who are no longer relevant and update the group description when needed. A tidy group works better.

Comparison: which app for your group?

The best choice depends on your situation:

• WhatsApp: Best choice if everyone already has it. Easiest for family and friends in the Netherlands.
• Signal: Best choice for privacy-conscious groups. All communication is secured as much as possible.
• Telegram: Best choice for large groups or communities. Most features for managing groups.

Group chats are a powerful way to stay in touch with several people at once. Choose the app that fits your needs and the preferences of your group members.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum number of people in a group chat?

This differs per app. WhatsApp supports up to 1024 participants, Signal up to 1000, and Telegram up to 200,000 in a supergroup. For video calls the limits are lower: WhatsApp 32 people, Signal 40 people, and Telegram theoretically unlimited.

Can I leave a group without others seeing it?

In WhatsApp, all members get a notification when someone leaves the group. In Signal and Telegram this is more discreet: members don't automatically see that you have left, unless they check the member list. In all apps you can mute the group first as an alternative to leaving.

How do I prevent spam in my group?

Make the group private so only invited people can join. In WhatsApp you can set it so that only admins can add new members. Telegram has advanced anti-spam features and slow mode to limit excessive messages. Appoint trusted admins who can step in when there are problems.

Can I see the chat history if I join a group later?

This differs per app. In WhatsApp you don't see messages from before you joined. In Signal, as an admin you can set whether new members see the history. Telegram offers the most flexibility: admins can choose whether the full history is visible to new members.