WhatsApp Is Testing A Paid Subscription: But Don’t Expect It to Do Anything Useful

By Shikhar Mehrotra • Updated On Apr 21, 2026

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TL; DR

WhatsApp Plus is a paid subscription in testing, priced around €2.49/month, with cosmetic perks only.
Features include custom icons, themes, ringtones, premium stickers, and 20 pinned chats instead of three.
Core WhatsApp remains free; Meta confirmed the test as part of a cross-app subscription strategy.

WhatsApp has always been free, and it’s going to stay that way, well, mostly. Why am I saying that? Meta has officially confirmed it is testing a new paid tier for the messaging platform, WhatsApp Plus.

While this version is currently in a limited Android beta, a broader rollout across iOS and other platforms is expected to follow soon. If you were wondering about how it works, it’s mostly about how the app looks, and less about what it does, at least for now.

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What can you do with WhatsApp Plus?

According to WhatsApp updates tracker WABetaInfo (confirmed by Meta), WhatsApp Plus subscribers will get access to premium sticker packs with full-screen animation overlays (available in Telegram), and optional color accents replacing the app’s default green.

WhatsApp Plus users will also get alternate app icons ranging from minimal designs to textured effects like glitter, nebula, and fuzzy people. The plan could also raise the pinned chat limit from three to 20, add 10 exclusive ringtones, and let users apply themes and notification settings across entire chat lists at once.

Pricing, for now, sits at around €2.49/month in Europe, with a one-month free trial offered to users in the beginning. Core features, including messaging, voice, and video calls, end-to-end encryption, will remain entirely free for all users.

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Why is Meta doing this now?

The move is part of a broader subscription push across Meta’s family of apps, which includes Instagram Plus and Facebook. It’s not like Meta desperately needs this, but a paid subscription tier could surely help convert a small fraction of WhatsApp’s user base into assets that add to the platform’s total monthly revenue.

In Q4 2025, WhatsApp’s revenue crossed the $2 billion annualized run rate. But wait a minute. WhatsApp has always remained free, right? Well, that revenue comes from WhatsApp Business, where the platform charges enterprises and companies for access to a wider user base.

For a platform with over three billion users, even a modest conversion rate could add meaningful revenue to its existing advertising business.

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Shikhar Mehrotra

Shikhar Mehrotra is a seasoned technology writer and reviewer with over five years of experience covering consumer tech across India and global markets. At Smartprix, he has authored more than 1,700 articles, including news stories, features, comparisons, and product reviews spanning automobiles, smartphones, chipsets, wearables, laptops, home appliances, and operating systems. Shikhar has reviewed flagship devices such as the iPhone 16, Galaxy S25+, and Sennheiser HD 505 Open-Ear headphones. He also contributes regularly to Smartprix’s growing automotive section.

With a deep understanding of both iOS and Android ecosystems, Shikhar specializes in daily tech news, how-to explainers, product comparisons, and in-depth reviews. His DSLR photography in product reviews is recognized as among the best on the team.

Before joining Smartprix, Shikhar wrote for leading publications including Forbes Advisor India, Republic World, and ScreenRant. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from Amity University, Lucknow.

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