WhatsApp

How WhatsApp works in each country we track, and the local alternative where it doesn't.

• Argentina🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Austria🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp is dominant; Telegram second-tier

  Use instead: Telegram

• Barbados🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Belgium🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp is the dominant messaging platform in Belgium.

• Belize🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Bolivia🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Brazil🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp is the primary messaging app; widely used and fully functional.

• Bulgaria🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works, but Viber is very common locally.

  Use instead: Viber

• Cambodia🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works, but Telegram is very widely used locally.

  Use instead: Telegram

• Canada🟡Local app preferred

  WhatsApp works but isn’t market leader; Messenger is more widely used in Canada.

  Use instead: Facebook Messenger

• Chile🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• China🔴Blocked

  WhatsApp is blocked by the firewall. Everyone in China uses WeChat for messaging.

  Use instead: WeChat

• Colombia🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp is the default way Colombians communicate — works perfectly for messaging and calls.

• Croatia🟢Works fine

  Messaging apps are not blocked in Croatia and widely used.

• Cuba🟡Local app preferred

  WhatsApp works only when you're online via limited wifi/data; expect slow, intermittent connections.

• Cyprus🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Dominican Republic🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp is the primary messenger for daily life.

• Ecuador🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Egypt🟡Local app preferred

  WhatsApp texting works; voice/video calls are sometimes throttled, so a local eSIM helps for calling.

  Use instead: Local eSIM for calls

• El Salvador🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp is how everything gets arranged in El Salvador — tours, taxis, hotels.

• Estonia🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Fiji🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Finland🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• France🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp is widely used across France for personal and some business messaging.

• Georgia🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp and Viber are both common.

  Use instead: Viber

• Germany🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp is universal in Germany — how you'll reach hotels, hosts and tour operators.

• Ghana🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp is widely used and accessible.

• Honduras🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Indonesia🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Ireland🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp is widely used across EU and Ireland without restriction.

• Israel🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Italy🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp is the default in Italy — restaurants, B&Bs and drivers all use it, including for bookings.

• Jamaica🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp is the default messaging and business communication tool across Jamaica.

• Japan🟡Local app preferred

  WhatsApp works but is rarely used. LINE is the standard messaging app in Japan.

  Use instead: LINE

• Jordan🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Kenya🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Latvia🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Liberia🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp is the main way people communicate in Liberia where data is available.

• Lithuania🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Luxembourg🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Malaysia🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Malta🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Mexico🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp is the default way people communicate in Mexico — businesses included.

• Montenegro🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp and Viber are both widely used.

  Use instead: Viber

• Morocco🟡Local app preferred

  WhatsApp texting works; internet calling is sometimes restricted, so a local eSIM helps for phone calls.

  Use instead: Local eSIM for calls

• Nepal🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp and Viber are both widely used.

  Use instead: Viber

• Netherlands🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp is near-universal in the Netherlands — the standard way to reach hosts, hotels and businesses.

• New Zealand🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Nicaragua🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Nigeria🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Norway🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp is commonly used among Norwegians.

• Panama🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp is dominant messaging app in Panama.

• Peru🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp is widely used and available with good functionality.

• Philippines🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works, but Messenger is by far the most-used chat app.

  Use instead: Facebook Messenger

• Poland🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works but Telegram is more popular in Poland.

  Use instead: Telegram

• Portugal🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp is dominant messaging platform among internet users in Portugal.

• Qatar🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Romania🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Saint Lucia🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Saudi Arabia🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Serbia🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works, but Viber is very common locally.

  Use instead: Viber

• Singapore🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Slovakia🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Slovenia🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• South Africa🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• South Korea🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works, but almost everyone uses KakaoTalk; install it to reach hosts, guides and services.

  Use instead: KakaoTalk

• Spain🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp is universal in Spain — hotels, tour operators and restaurants use it for everything.

• Sri Lanka🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Sweden🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Switzerland🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp is widely usable; Threema recommended in some official contexts for privacy.

  Use instead: Threema

• Taiwan🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works, but LINE is the everyday chat app for locals and businesses.

  Use instead: LINE

• Tanzania🟠Unreliable

  Generally available, but may be blocked during unrest or elections.

• Thailand🟡Local app preferred

  WhatsApp works, but almost everyone in Thailand communicates on LINE — hotels and tour operators included.

  Use instead: LINE

• Trinidad and Tobago🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Turks and Caicos🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• United Arab Emirates🟠Unreliable

  WhatsApp texting works, but WhatsApp/FaceTime voice & video calls are blocked; use BOTIM or a normal phone line for calls.

  Use instead: BOTIM / phone calls

• Uruguay🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works normally and is widely used.

• Vietnam🟢Works fine

  WhatsApp works, but Zalo is the local default for chat and many businesses.

  Use instead: Zalo