Use WhatsApp without a smartphone?

Hi. I'm thinking about switching to Linux on my smartphone. The only reason I can't is because in my country WhatsApp is everywhere and I'm expected to have it for various school/sport things. I'd like to setup whatsapp on my laptop, but I don't know how.

I know WhatsApp Web and Desktop exist, but in the past you needed to log in to your phone at least once a month for the web session to keep working. Is it that still the case?

Or can I just log in from Android (and be fine as long as I don't accidentally log out)?