WhatsApp Tests Plus Subscription with Stickers for a Monthly Fee
▼ Summary
– Meta is testing a paid WhatsApp Plus subscription offering cosmetic perks like exclusive stickers and custom app icons.
– The subscription costs €2.49 per month and is initially available to a limited number of users on Android.
– WhatsApp Plus is currently only for the Messenger app, not WhatsApp Business, with iOS support planned later.
– This follows a similar model to Snapchat Plus and Meta’s recent test of a paid Instagram Plus subscription.
– The Instagram Plus subscription focuses on exclusive features for Stories, like custom audiences and extended duration.
Meta is exploring a new revenue stream for its popular messaging platform by introducing a paid subscription tier. According to a report from the reliable beta-tracking site WABetaInfo, a limited test of WhatsApp Plus is now underway. This optional monthly plan, priced at approximately €2.49, offers users a suite of cosmetic upgrades and organizational tools not available in the standard free app.
The subscription aims to enhance personalization, providing exclusive stickers, varied app themes, and custom icons. For users managing many conversations, it adds practical value through features like the ability to pin up to 20 chats and apply custom settings in bulk to contact lists. Premium ringtones are also part of the package. This move mirrors similar strategies from other social platforms, placing WhatsApp’s pricing close to Snapchat Plus, which costs $3.99 monthly for comparable perks.
Currently, the WhatsApp Plus test is confined to the Android version of WhatsApp Messenger and is not yet available for WhatsApp Business. Support for iOS devices is reportedly planned for a future phase of the rollout. This follows a pattern of subscription testing within Meta’s ecosystem, as the company also recently began trialing a paid tier for Instagram focused on exclusive Story features like extended visibility and custom audiences.
(Source: The Verge)
