WhatsApp could soon come with a paid subscription with extra features, but free messaging remains: report

WhatsApp may soon give some users a reason to pay for the app. According to a report by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is working on an optional paid subscription that would unlock a set of extra features aimed at users who want more control and customisation, without changing anything for everyone else.

The subscription is still a work in progress and hasn’t been officially announced. Right now, WhatsApp appears to be testing the idea through beta builds, with some users seeing a waitlist for the upcoming plan. The important bit is that this won’t replace the free version. If you’re happy with how WhatsApp works today, you’ll be able to keep using it as you always have, with the same privacy protections intact.

So what would paying actually get you? Based on what has surfaced so far, the initial set of premium features is more about convenience and personalisation than major functional upgrades. Subscribers may get access to exclusive sticker packs, new themes, and additional chat ringtones. There’s also a custom app icon feature in the works, which would let users change how WhatsApp appears on their home screen.

One feature that could genuinely matter to some users is expanded chat pinning. WhatsApp currently allows only three pinned chats, which can feel limiting if you’re juggling work conversations, family groups, and personal chats. The paid plan may lift that restriction, making it easier to keep important conversations within reach.

WhatsApp has reportedly indicated that this is just the first wave of premium features. More could be added over time based on feedback, and some of the current ideas may still change or be dropped before launch. Pricing hasn’t been shared yet and is expected to vary by country.

Alongside the subscription testing, WhatsApp is also experimenting with several other updates. These include a new “thinking mode” for Meta AI that trades speed for more detailed responses, temporary status-style updates for channels, and clearer paid partnership labels for sponsored channel posts. Smaller changes in testing include recent chat search history, forwarding stats for channels, and a stricter one-tap security mode.

In the bigger picture, this move lines up with Meta’s push to explore subscriptions across its apps, including Facebook and Instagram. For most people, the free version of WhatsApp will likely remain more than enough. But for users who spend a lot of time in the app and want extra flexibility, the paid plan could become a reasonable add-on once it’s ready.