Khaberni - "Meta" has started testing a paid subscription feature under the name "WhatsApp Plus".
This transformation redefines the business model of "WhatsApp", which has been completely free for years, now shifting to a platform offering "premium" services for those who seek organizational and aesthetic distinction.
Why now?
"Meta" imposes a simple, uniform user interface on over 3 billion users, but the competitive pressure from apps like "Snapchat" and "Instagram", which have achieved great success in their paid subscriptions, has pushed "Meta" to emulate the experience.
Tech experts see "WhatsApp Plus" not just as an update, but a response to the demands of professional users who struggle with conversation clutter and difficulty accessing important chats, as millions rely on the app as a primary work tool and not just a means of social communication.
The most powerful feature in the new subscription is breaking the barrier of "pinning chats"; while the ordinary user chokes with a maximum of no more than 3 chats at the top of the page, WhatsApp Plus allows its subscribers to pin up to 20 conversations, and according to tech sites, this leap is not merely cosmetic, but a significant productivity tool that allows users to flexibly organize their professional and personal priorities.
The update has extended to include the "visual identity" of the app; subscribers can now choose from 18 different colors to change the overall appearance, customize the external app icon, and have access to 10 exclusive ringtones, transforming WhatsApp from a "formal serious" application to a space that reflects the user's personal taste.
"Meta" has adopted a flexible pricing strategy that takes into account economic differences between continents, while the service is being tested in Europe at a price of approximately 2.49 euros per month, data from tracking platforms like "WABetaInfo" show that the price in markets like Pakistan and Mexico will be much lower to match the purchasing power there, offering users a full month free trial to test the market before committing to payment.
Despite the subscription fee, the surprise that might not please everyone is that "WhatsApp Plus" will not remove ads from the "Status" section; this decision reflects "Meta"'s desire to maximize its revenue from both direct subscriptions and ad revenues, which have exceeded an annual operating rate of 2 billion dollars.
WhatsApp is gradually turning into a "profit machine" for "Meta", after years of being an app that consumed resources without direct significant returns compared to Facebook and Instagram.
Official sources from inside "Meta", according to the post, confirm that the main features including full encryption, text chat, and calls, will remain free forever. However, the emergence of WhatsApp Plus lays the foundation for a new world, where "free" will be available to everyone, while "professionalism and organization" will be for those who pay.
With the tests starting on Android devices, iOS users are eagerly awaiting when these features will reach them.
