WhatsApp is entering its subscription era, with a new paid tier for some iPhone users called WhatsApp Plus.
While existing WhatsApp features will remain free, the subscription brings cosmetic and functional upgrades such as premium ringtones, custom icons and the ability to pin more chats.
WhatsApp Plus is mostly about customization
Unlike competing services Telegram and Discord, Meta does not seem to be interested in locking WhatsApp’s core messaging features behind a paywall with the new subscription. Instead, WhatsApp Plus, which Meta began rolling out last month for Android users, will focus mostly on customization.
“WhatsApp Plus is optional and it does not affect the core messaging experience, as it continues to work in the same way for all users,” according to a weekend report from WABetaInfo. “So users who do not subscribe will still have full access to messaging, calling, and other features without any limitations. The subscription only adds new personalization and enhancements for those users who want more control over the app.”
Subscribers who pony up the cash will gain access to upgraded features including:
- 18 custom theme colors
- 14 different app icons
- Premium animated sticker packs
- 10 new ringtones
- Ability to pin up to 20 chats
- Option to manage chat lists
Some of the new theme options include colors like coral orange, crimson red, deep navy, forest green and royal purple. Meta is also experimenting with alternate app icons, something it hasn’t done before.
WhatsApp has mostly looked the same for years. While these changes might appear minor, the app increasingly feels visually dated compared to rivals like iMessage, Discord and Telegram. WhatsApp Plus seems designed to fix that.
WhatsApp Plus also includes a few functional upgrades. For example, WhatsApp Plus subscribers will be able to pin up to 20 chats instead of just three and use new tools to manage multiple chats simultaneously via lists.
Meta’s smartest trick may be the premium stickers
The best part of WhatsApp Plus might be the premium stickers. According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp Plus users will be able to use stickers with animated overlay effects. Users who haven’t paid for the subscription will still see the stickers if someone sends them in a chat.
That means every premium sticker sent will advertise the subscription to nonpaying users. Meta seems to be borrowing the strategy used by Discord and Telegram by making premium features visible inside regular conversations.
WhatsApp Plus might start at less than $3 a month
WhatsApp Plus doesn’t appear to be available in the United States. And Meta hasn’t revealed official U.S. pricing. But the subscription reportedly starts from 2.49 euros per month in some parts of Europe.
That translates to roughly $2.93 in the United States. At that price, WhatsApp Plus could undercut rival messaging subscriptions like Discord Nitro and Telegram Premium.
WABetaInfo also spotted pricing references in other countries, such as Pakistan and Mexico, hinting that Meta might be planning a broader rollout. The company is also reportedly allowing users to renew their WhatsApp Plus subscription via the App Store.
Meta might try to hook Facebook and Instagram users on paid subscriptions, too
For years, Meta has refrained from locking features behind a paywall in services like Facebook and Instagram. But that may finally be changing. The company told TechCrunch earlier this year that it plans to test premium subscriptions on Instagram and Facebook as well as WhatsApp.
The company is currently testing WhatsApp Plus with a small number of iPhone users. If enough people show interest and pay monthly just to customize the app, Meta might see little reason to stop there.
Anurag Chawake is a tech-focused writer specializing in smartphones, apps and consumer technology. His interest in computers began during the Windows 98 era, eventually leading him to explore everything from operating systems to mobile devices and PC hardware. Anurag previously contributed to The Indian Express, covering Apple, Android, gaming and the broader technology landscape.
