Meta Platforms has begun testing a new optional subscription tier, WhatsApp Plus, aimed at users seeking deeper personalization and organization tools on WhatsApp. The feature is currently rolling out to a limited set of Android beta testers, with iOS availability expected at a later stage.
Meta confirmed the news and said that this subscription is meant for those who want “more ways to organize and personalize their experience.” The feature is still in the early stages of development, and Meta is currently gathering user feedback.
WhatsApp Plus offers users a set of paid features related to personalization and functionality. This version of WhatsApp allows you to have 20 pinned chats, significantly higher than the 3 available today.
The subscription provides users with access to customized app themes, along with 18 accent colors and 14 application icons featuring different design styles, from minimalistic to artistic. The app will provide users with exclusive ringtones and special visual effect sticker packs. The introduction of bulk chat list upgrades allows users to apply unified settings, which include themes and alert tones, to their grouped conversations.
Meta has introduced a paid option, but its main messaging services will continue to operate as they did before. All users will have free access to text messaging, voice, and video calling services, as well as end-to-end encryption.
The subscription is currently limited to the standard consumer version of WhatsApp and does not extend to WhatsApp Business accounts. The premium tier will not eliminate advertisements on the Status feature, as Meta first introduced it as part of its advertising revenue plan.
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Meta has not officially disclosed pricing details. The initial reports indicate that the company will implement a subscription service at a lower price than the existing pricing. The service will have different prices for different regions, with European customers charged approximately €2.49 monthly, Pakistani customers charged PKR 229, and Mexican customers charged $29.
Meta provides selected users with a one-month complimentary trial, demonstrating the company’s intention to evaluate user adoption before expanding its service to more customers.