Summary
No, there is currently no native way to make a three way call directly within Snapchat. Snapchat’s calling features only support two people on a call at once. However, there are some workarounds that allow Snapchat users to simulate a three way call by using Snapchat’s group messaging features or connecting a phone call outside of Snapchat with an ongoing Snapchat call.
Snapchat’s Calling Features
Snapchat introduced voice and video calling features in 2014, allowing users to make one-to-one calls within the app. On Snapchat calls, users can switch between front and rear cameras and use lenses, filters, and other creative tools during the call.
Snapchat’s calling interface consists of three main screens – the incoming call screen, the active call screen, and the call history screen. On the incoming call screen, users see the caller’s name and profile photo and can choose to answer or reject the call. During an active call, users see buttons to toggle the camera, end the call, and more. The call history stores recent incoming and outgoing calls.
At launch, Snapchat’s calling feature only supported two people on a call at once. Over the years, Snapchat has introduced improvements like Caller ID and added group video chat capabilities. However, Snapchat’s group video chats are limited to 16 participants rather than the two person limit on one-on-one calls. Snapchat has not expanded its native calling features beyond two callers.
There is no built-in way to merge multiple Snapchat calls together or add a third caller to an existing Snapchat call. The two-person restriction on Snapchat calls prevents making true three way calls within the app.
Workarounds for Simulating a 3 Way Call on Snapchat
While Snapchat itself does not offer three way calling, Snapchat users have found some creative workarounds to simulate the experience of a three way call with friends on Snapchat. Here are a few methods that approximate three way call functionality using Snapchat’s existing tools:
Use Snapchat Groups
One workaround is to take advantage of Snapchat’s group messaging features. Snapchat allows users to create group chats with up to 32 members. While Snapchat only supports video chatting with up to 16 members, users can join a Snapchat group chat and use audio calling to connect multiple people.
To set up a faux three way call on Snapchat:
- User A starts an audio call with User B within Snapchat.
- While remaining on the call with User B, User A creates a new Snapchat group chat and adds User C.
- Once User C joins the group chat, all three participants can talk through the open phone line as if on a conference call.
The main limitation with this workaround is that group chats do not prioritize the audio call, so participants will have to mute notifications or manually return to the call screen to continue talking. However, using Snapchat groups can allow up to 32 people to participate in the same audio conversation.
Merge with a Phone Call
Another workaround involves using Snapchat’s calling feature in conjunction with a phone call happening outside the app:
- User A starts a Snapchat call with User B.
- User A then calls User C directly via their phone’s native phone call feature, putting User B on hold.
- Once connected with User C, User A merges the two calls together by putting their phone on speaker.
This allows Users A, B and C to communicate on the same call. The main limitation here is that User C misses out on Snapchat’s visual features during the call. However, the audio from their regular phone call gets merged with User A and B’s Snapchat call.
Use a 3 Way Calling App
A third workaround is for users to install a separate three way calling app on their phones. There are many apps available, such as 3 Way Caller, that provide three way calling functionality independent of a phone’s native interface.
To simulate a three way call on Snapchat using one of these apps:
- User A starts a Snapchat call with User B.
- User A opens the third party app and uses it to add User C to the call.
- The app will merge User C with the ongoing Snapchat call, allowing all three parties to talk.
The app provides the actual three way call capabilities while still routing the audio through Snapchat, so User A and B maintain the Snapchat call experience. The main drawback is requiring installation of a separate utility.
Why Snapchat Doesn’t Support 3 Way Calling Natively
Snapchat has not added native support for three way calls even as the app has gained more communication features over the years. There are a few possible reasons why Snapchat has not introduced three way calling capabilities within the app:
- Snapchat is designed for one-on-one communication – Its core features center around sharing between two friends, so there may be less demand for group calling compared to apps optimized for groups.
- Technical challenges – Developing three way call support likely requires overcoming complex technical hurdles related to streaming, syncing, and merging audio and video between three sources.
- Limited resources – Snapchat may be prioritizing development of other new features over building out a complex three way calling system.
- Cost considerations – Supporting three way calls requires additional bandwidth and infrastructure, increasing costs for Snapchat.
- Regulatory issues – Adding multi-party calling capabilities opens Snapchat up to greater legal oversight related to privacy and data retention policies.
Ultimately, the costs and challenges of engineering native three way calling may currently outweigh the benefits for Snapchat. The app has succeeded with its lightweight and intimate approach to messaging, even without replicating the full functionality of traditional telecom providers.
Conclusion
In summary, Snapchat does not natively support three way calls within the application. Users are limited to two participants on a standard Snapchat call or video chat. However, users have found creative workarounds by utilizing Snapchat’s group chats or connecting external phone calls to simulate a three way call experience. While not as seamless as native support, these methods can allow Snapchat users to have group conversations by merging Snapchat’s communication tools with outside utilities. For true multi-party calling within Snapchat, users may have to wait and see if Snapchat ever does decide to take on the technical challenge of enabling three way calls directly in the app.