WhatsApp could soon join the growing list of apps adding a paid tier, but not in the way you might expect.
A new “WhatsApp Plus” subscription is currently being tested. It offers extra customisation features without locking any core messaging tools behind a paywall.
According to early beta details, the Plus tier targets heavy users who want more control over how the app looks and behaves.
What would WhatsApp Plus include?
The service is rumoured to include premium sticker packs with full-screen animations. It also includes custom accent colours that replace WhatsApp’s signature green. There is also a range of alternate app icons. These range from minimal styles to more playful options like glitter or nebula effects.
There are also a few practical upgrades. Subscribers can pin up to 20 chats instead of three, apply themes and notification settings in bulk, and choose from exclusive ringtones. Nevertheless, these do not fundamentally change how WhatsApp works in any way. Messaging, calls, statuses, and end-to-end encryption all remain free. This suggests this sits firmly in the “nice-to-have” category rather than a must-pay upgrade.
Moreover, pricing isn’t final, but the beta currently points to around €2.49 per month in Europe. Other regions show similar low-cost tiers. There’s also mention of a potential free trial. This would make sense given how subtle most of these features are.
This doesn’t come as a surprise
The move fits into a broader push from Meta, which has been experimenting with paid features across its apps. Instagram is already testing its own subscription tier with perks like extended Stories and extra insights. So WhatsApp following suit isn’t exactly surprising.
For now, WhatsApp Plus is limited to a small number of Android beta users, with a wider rollout expected soon. iOS support is likely to follow later.
Whether it actually takes off is another question. The features feel deliberately lightweight, which keeps WhatsApp accessible, but also makes it harder to justify paying. For some, deeper customisation might be enough. For everyone else, the free version still does exactly what it always has.
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