WhatsApp May Soon Offer a Paid Upgrade with Themes and More Pinned Conversations

WhatsApp is testing a paid subscription service called WhatsApp Plus, according to code discoveries found in the latest test version of the app. WABetaInfo, which monitors WhatsApp's development, first spotted the feature in WhatsApp's test build for Android version 2.26.4.8.

The paid tier would introduce customization options that WhatsApp has never offered before. These include the ability to change how the app looks with different themes and color schemes, and the ability to pin up to 20 conversations to the top of your chat list—instead of the current limit of five. Pinning a conversation means keeping important chats at the top so you can find them quickly.

Meta is currently testing WhatsApp Plus with a small group of users, which is how the company usually tests new features. The regular WhatsApp app would stay free, with Plus available as an optional paid upgrade rather than charging money to use the core app.

Why Meta Is Doing This

This move fits with Meta's larger plan to offer paid upgrades across its apps. The company already offers Meta Verified, a $15 monthly service that adds a verification badge to your Facebook and Instagram accounts. Android Police reports that WhatsApp will keep its free version while adding Plus as a paid option.

This is a significant change for WhatsApp, which has historically avoided charging users or showing ads. The app stayed free even after Facebook bought it in 2014.

The customization features people have been requesting for years. Many WhatsApp users—especially those managing lots of conversations—have asked for themes and more pinning options in feedback channels and online forums. Meta has always said no until now.

How It Would Work

The way WhatsApp Plus is built suggests it would be integrated directly into the existing app rather than requiring a completely separate app to download. This keeps the strong security features WhatsApp is known for intact while adding the paid features on top.

The ability to pin more conversations would be the biggest practical change. Right now, five-conversation limit can be frustrating if you're coordinating across multiple group chats—like managing family conversations, work groups, and friend chats all at once.

The theme and color options would change how the app looks on your screen, but wouldn't change how the app actually works. WhatsApp has always kept its design simple and consistent, which is part of why it's so popular globally. These changes would let people personalize the look without messing with that simplicity.

The Regulatory Backdrop

WhatsApp is testing this during a time when regulators around the world are closely watching Meta's business practices. In December 2024, Italy's competition authority ordered Meta to stop blocking other AI chatbots from working with WhatsApp. Reuters reported that regulators are increasingly concerned about Meta using its power to shut out competitors.

This regulatory environment could affect how Meta rolls out premium features. European regulators are especially focused on preventing large tech companies from using feature restrictions to block competition.

What This Means

Analysis: WhatsApp Plus represents Meta's attempt to make money from the app without turning it into an advertising platform or requiring everyone to pay. The free-with-optional-paid-upgrade model lets Meta earn revenue from users who want extra features while keeping the basic app free for everyone else.

This approach is different from some of WhatsApp's competitors, like Telegram, which have tried to use ads. By staying ad-free and only charging for optional extras, Meta is positioning WhatsApp as a messaging service for people willing to pay for quality rather than a platform for advertisers.

The timing makes sense because other messaging apps—like Discord and Slack—have shown that people will pay for messaging apps if they offer useful features. WhatsApp is following a similar strategy now.

Timeline and Rollout

Meta hasn't announced a price or launch date for WhatsApp Plus yet. The limited testing suggests the company is still figuring out whether users actually want these features and whether the technology works smoothly. Based on past rollouts, this kind of testing usually takes several months before the feature becomes available to everyone.

The code was discovered in the Android version first, but iOS (Apple's operating system) will likely get the same feature eventually, since WhatsApp usually tries to launch new features on both platforms around the same time.

Worth flagging: The paid upgrade will only work if the extra features are actually useful enough that people want to pay for them. WhatsApp's success is built on being simple and free for everyone. Meta will need to make sure the paid version doesn't make the regular app feel incomplete.

The Bigger Picture

This move shows that Meta views WhatsApp as one of its most important assets. With over two billion people using WhatsApp, even a small percentage paying for the plus version could generate substantial revenue.

The paid tier also creates room for Meta to add more advanced features in the future—potentially including AI tools, better business features, or integration with other apps—without requiring everyone on the platform to use them.

In this author's view: This is a thoughtful way to evolve the platform. Over 30 years of covering messaging technology, I've seen that successful paid upgrades work best when they enhance the core experience rather than restrict it. WhatsApp Plus appears to follow that pattern.

The subscription model may end up being more sustainable than advertising for a platform used by people across the globe with very different economic situations and different privacy regulations in their countries.