Everything We Know About WhatsApp's Paid Subscription Service

Back in January, I wrote about Meta's plans to test subscription services for some of its platforms. The idea is to keep the current experience of each app the same (that is, free of charge), while adding new features users can access for a monthly fee. It's not a bad compromise—if you hate the idea of paying for Instagram or WhatsApp, you can keep using the apps as you always have. If you like the new features, you can pay for them. Heck, maybe Meta will make enough money from subscriptions to end its data collection business! (Hey, a guy can dream.)

Now, it seems that Meta is moving forward with WhatsApp's premium subscription. According to WABetaInfo, the company is working on "WhatsApp Plus," an optional paid plan that adds extra features to the messaging app. There are a number of new features on offer, but not as many as I expected for a subscription version of an app that's always been available for free. (That said, there's no indication of what WhatsApp Plus will cost, so it's possible these features are coming for something like $1 a month.)

What features are coming to WhatsApp Plus?

If you choose to pay for WhatsApp, Meta will offer you 14 new icons to choose from, and over a dozen options to change the app's theme. Free users can currently pin up to three threads to the top of the Chats window; paid users will be able to pin up to 20. (A screenshot from WABetaInfo shows that if you try to add too many pins, you receive a pop-up warning you "You can only pin 20 chats." Only 20!) Many of us keep our smartphones on vibrate or silent all of the time, but for anyone who doesn't, paying for WhatsApp will unlock a new set of ringtones. WABetaInfo says that each new ringtone "has its own distinctive style," though didn't share any of the sound files.

Those are the features currently in testing, but WABetaInfo says that WhatsApp has more features planned for its Plus service. That could include exclusive stickers that free users will not get, and reactions could be "more immersive and interactive."

How to try WhatsApp Plus early

There's no official timeline for WhatsApp Plus' launch, so it's difficult to say when Meta plans on rolling out it. However, WABetaInfo does say that the latest WhatsApp beta for Android (version 2.26.9.6) adds a banner, either within the sticker keyboard or at the top of the settings menu, to enroll in the WhatsApp Plus waitlist.

If you're comfortable with that, sign up for the WhatsApp for Android beta, update your app to install it, then check either of these locations within the app. Note that when you sign up for the waitlist, that doesn't require you to subscribe. It only gives you the option to do so when Meta rolls out WhatsApp Plus. If you decide you don't feel like paying, you can simply ignore the option.