A WhatsApp broadcast list can have up to 256 recipients.
Broadcast lists let one sender distribute the same message to many contacts while keeping the conversation private. Each recipient receives the message in an individual chat, so recipients cannot see the other people on the list or reply to one another as they could in a group.
The 256-contact limit applies to each individual broadcast list. Someone who needs to reach more people can create multiple lists, although managing several lists requires additional organization. Broadcast lists are therefore different from WhatsApp Groups, whose membership limits and behavior have changed over time.
A particularly important practical detail is that recipients generally must have the sender’s phone number saved in their address book to receive a broadcast. This requirement is often mistaken for a delivery failure or confused with the recipient limit. Broadcast lists also differ from WhatsApp Channels, which are designed for large-scale, one-way updates and can reach followers beyond a personal contact list.