GuidedView vs WhatsApp: screen sharing on a video call or on your phone call

At a glance

What is WhatsApp?

WhatsApp is Meta's messaging and calling app, available on iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac computers, and the web. During a WhatsApp video call, either person can share their screen: on iPhone through Apple's Start Broadcast prompt, and on Android with a choice to share one app or the entire screen. WhatsApp says screen sharing is encrypted and is never recorded by WhatsApp, and it reminds people to share only with someone they trust when the other person is not saved in their contacts. WhatsApp is free, and both the regular app and the WhatsApp Business app cost nothing to download. Every user needs a WhatsApp account registered and verified with an active phone number, and calls connect those phone-number-based accounts. That makes WhatsApp a natural fit for friends, family and small businesses whose customers already message them there, and less suited to support calls that happen on a regular phone line.

How does WhatsApp screen sharing work?

Screen sharing in WhatsApp starts from a video call. On iPhone, the person sharing taps the options icon in the video controls, taps Share screen, sees a notice that they are about to begin recording with WhatsApp, and taps Start Broadcast. On Android, they tap the options icon, then Share screen, and choose Share one app (then pick the app) or Share entire screen. On both, Stop Sharing ends it.

WhatsApp warns that usernames and passwords on a shared screen are visible to the viewer. On Android, sharing a single app limits what the other person sees, and on Android 15 and later Android hides notification content and password fields from viewers. WhatsApp does not document a pause, so a customer stops sharing to enter private details. Sharing is view-only, with no remote control.

Can WhatsApp share a screen during a regular phone call?

No. WhatsApp says you must be in a WhatsApp video call to share your screen, and screen sharing is not available during WhatsApp audio calls. It cannot be added to a regular phone call. If a customer has called your business line, both of you would need to move to a WhatsApp video call before they could share.

GuidedView is designed for the opposite situation. The agent sends an invitation by text message or email while both people stay on their normal phone call. GuidedView has no voice or video of its own, so there is no second call to start. Our guide to helping someone with their phone over the phone covers the basics.

What are the trade-offs for a business?

• Customers need WhatsApp. Every customer needs a WhatsApp account tied to a phone number and has to be willing to take a video call to share a screen.
• Phone numbers are visible. WhatsApp calls connect phone-number-based accounts, so an agent using a personal WhatsApp exposes a personal number.
• No business records. WhatsApp has no admin console, session log or audit trail for screen shares.
• Business app support is unconfirmed. WhatsApp's screen sharing article does not say whether sharing works in the WhatsApp Business app or in calls placed through the paid WhatsApp Business Platform. Test it before relying on it.

With GuidedView, customers need no account, invitations work once and expire, and only the agent who sent an invitation can view that session. See the security page for details.

How does pricing compare?

As of November 2026, WhatsApp is free, and the WhatsApp Business app is free to download, with optional in-app purchases such as Meta Verified. The paid WhatsApp Business Platform is priced separately; check Meta's current pricing if you plan to use it. GuidedView costs $29.99 a month per account, billed monthly, with no charge for customers. That buys a tool made for business support calls: one-time invitations, approval before sharing, Pause for private steps and no recordings. See GuidedView pricing.

Which should you choose?

For family and friends already on WhatsApp, it is a fine free choice. For support calls, GuidedView lets the customer share without leaving the phone call or creating any account. You can also compare GuidedView vs FaceTime, or create an account.