WhatsApp is testing a new paid subscription tier, raising questions about what users will actually gain.
Early details suggest the offering—called WhatsApp Plus—is more about personalization than essential features.
The Meta-owned messaging platform has introduced WhatsApp Plus as an optional subscription.
According to the company, it provides access to “additional premium features” without changing the core experience of the app.
What features do you actually get?
So far, the features included in WhatsApp Plus are limited and largely cosmetic. These include:
- Paid-only stickers
- Custom ringtones
- Themes and wallpapers
- App icons
Notably, any personalization—such as themes or icons—is only visible to the user, not to the people they chat with.
Subscribers will also get the ability to pin up to 20 chats, offering more flexibility compared to the standard version.
WhatsApp has reassured users that its main services will remain unchanged.
The platform says messaging, calling, and privacy features will continue to be free and accessible to everyone.
Pricing still unclear
Meta has not announced pricing for WhatsApp Plus.
Even internal AI tools within the app reportedly indicate that pricing details are still under wraps.
The move comes after Meta confirmed plans to test subscription tiers across its platforms.
Following trials like Instagram Plus, WhatsApp now joins the list as the company looks to diversify revenue streams.
Meta’s scale makes even small subscription features potentially lucrative.
The company reported nearly $60 billion in Q4 2025 revenue and over $200 billion for the full year, with around 3.5 billion people using at least one Meta app daily.
.jpg)
