> WhatsApp would need internet to work, WiFi is not ubiquitous everywhere or easy to use, many public ones have some captive app that needs something or other l

> WhatsApp would need internet to work, WiFi is not ubiquitous everywhere or easy to use, many public ones have some captive app that needs something or other like local phone number - I have seen in some airports(!). > To get reliable internet on your phone abroad you need data roaming in the first place, if you have that then there is no benefits of WhatsApp over call/sms. I buy eSIMs, which often don't come with a local number. But I get data. I don't need to receive normal calls apart from the rare hotel call. Receiving SMSes while roaming tends to be free, while calls aren't.