The messaging app is experimenting with optional premium features while keeping core chats and calls free.
WhatsApp Explores a New Revenue Path
WhatsApp, owned by Meta**, is testing new ways to generate revenue without charging users for its core messaging service.
According to WABetaInfo**, WhatsApp is working on an optional paid subscription feature that has appeared in an upcoming Android beta version. The company is not planning to put messaging, calling, or group chats behind a paywall. Instead, it is experimenting with add-on features that users can choose to pay for.
A Slow and Limited Rollout
The report suggests that access to these paid features may initially be restricted. Some users could be placed on a waiting list before gaining access, indicating a cautious and phased rollout rather than an immediate global launch.
This approach allows WhatsApp to test demand and user response while limiting disruption to its massive global user base.
What Features Could Be Behind the Paywall
The subscription features under testing focus on personalisation and convenience rather than functionality.
According to the report, these may include exclusive sticker packs, new app themes, and a dedicated set of premium chat ringtones. None of the features is expected to affect how users send messages, make calls, or manage group chats.
For most users, WhatsApp would continue to work exactly as it does today.
WhatsApp Has Charged Before
Charging users is not new territory for WhatsApp. In its early years, the app collected a small annual subscription fee from some users. That model was dropped in 2016, after which WhatsApp remained largely free and largely ad-free.
The current testing marks a shift toward optional monetisation rather than mandatory fees.
Part of Meta’s Broader Strategy
The experiment aligns with Meta’s wider push to diversify revenue across its platforms. Meta already earns from advertising and paid tools on Facebook and Instagram, and WhatsApp itself has recently introduced ads and subscriptions within its Updates and Channels section.
Media reports have also suggested that Meta is exploring premium or paid features on Instagram, including tools such as identifying non-followers or viewing Stories anonymously. These features have not been officially confirmed.
No Pricing or Launch Timeline Yet
WhatsApp has not disclosed pricing details or a timeline for launching the subscription features. For now, the tests remain limited to beta versions, and the company has not announced when or if the features will reach all users.
What is clear is the direction. Meta wants WhatsApp to remain free at its core, while gradually introducing optional upgrades for users who want a more customised experience.
Photo: ISN
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