WhatsApp no longer wants to remain just a messaging app. The company is now preparing to convert it into a premium platform. For this, the company is introducing “WhatsApp Plus”. This is a subscription service for which users will have to pay a fee. Currently, this subscription plan has started for select iPhone users. This feature has been talked about in beta for months, but now, for the first time, some users have started using it.
**New feature of WhatsApp: A special section for business messages**
Interestingly, for quite some time, a fake version of “WhatsApp Plus” was doing the rounds. This fake app claimed to provide additional features to the users, but it was later revealed that it was a scam. However, now the company itself is officially launching WhatsApp Plus. Ironically, the company had previously advised users *not* to use WhatsApp Plus, and as a result, many users’ accounts were permanently banned. However, the company’s new WhatsApp Plus feature is currently visible only to a limited number of iPhone users and will be gradually rolled out to more users. According to the report, users who are using the latest iOS version of WhatsApp can find this option in the settings of their app.
**What will you get for your money?**
The main objective of WhatsApp Plus is to make the app experience more personalized and customizable. This means basic features like messaging and calling will remain free; However, users who want to make changes to the way the app looks and features will have access to additional tweaks. Under this new plan, users will get access to 18 new theme colors. While most of WhatsApp’s interface currently has a green theme, the Plus subscription will let users choose from several other colors including purple, blue, red, and yellow. Users will also be able to customize the app’s icons, with the company offering the option of around 14 new icon designs.
**New theme, new stickers**
In addition to the above, subscribers will get access to premium stickers with animated effects. Its purpose is to make the experience of sending stickers more interactive and visually appealing. The company is also introducing new ringtones to ensure that WhatsApp calls sound and look different from calls from other apps. Additionally, a major change is expected in the “pinned chats” feature. Currently, regular users can pin only three chats; But, with WhatsApp Plus, it will be possible to pin up to 20 chats. This feature is expected to be especially beneficial for those who manage a lot of chats related to work or business.
WhatsApp is also working on chat grouping and management features. For example, if a user creates a chat list named “Office”, they’ll be able to customize the theme, notification sound, and call tune for all chats in that category at once. Currently, these settings have to be set individually for each chat.
**₹300 per month**
The price of this service has become a big topic of discussion. According to reports, its monthly price in Europe has been set at around €2.49—which is equivalent to around ₹280 in Indian currency. Prices may vary from country to country, and the company may also offer a trial period in some regions. Although no official launch date has been announced yet for India, tech reports suggest that the service may become available to more users in the coming weeks or months. Interestingly, Meta has been gradually expanding the scope of paid features across all its platforms. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook and
**Company may charge money for important features in future**
This new model has also sparked a debate. Some experts are worried that while currently money is being made from features like themes and stickers, in the future important core features may also be made paid services. Companies have often used this strategy to make money: by introducing new subscription tiers, they often turn important features that were previously available for free into a paid service.
