The highly anticipated WhatsApp Plus appears to be rolling out to select users. Unlike the beta version tested earlier, this is reportedly a stable release that introduces a subscription paywall for access to features beyond the standard app. According to WABetaInfo, the subscription-based version is currently available to iPhone users in parts of Europe and Mexico. The service is said to cost €2.49 (~Rs 280) per month in Europe, while users in Mexico reportedly need to pay $29.
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WhatsApp vs WhatsApp Plus
WhatsApp Plus will have the same core features as the regular version, including end-to-end encryption of chats and calls and status updates. However, it aims to personalise the experience, with customised ringtones for contacts, app icons, animations, premium stickers and more.
As reported, WhatsApp Plus offers a range of exclusive visual enhancements, including animated sticker packs with overlay effects, 18 colour-based app themes, and as many as 14 alternate app icons featuring minimalist, artistic, and stylised designs. This will be beyond the traditional green WhatsApp layout that users have been stuck with for years.
Apart from this, the subscription also focuses on a handful of productivity-based features. Users on WhatsApp Plus can pin up to 20 chats (up from 3) at the top of the conversation list, making it easier to keep important personal and group chats readily accessible. Additionally, the new paid version introduces upgraded chat list management tools, allowing users to apply shared themes, notification tones, and ringtone settings across entire categories of chats, such as work or family, in a single action.
WhatsApp Plus includes a collection of 10 premium ringtones designed to help calls stand out from regular phone notifications.
WhatsApp Plus will not replace the free version
WhatsApp Plus is yet to be launched globally. The feature is currently rolling out to a limited number of iOS users, with broader availability, including India, expected over the coming weeks. While the European and Mexican pricing is out, it is said to vary depending on the region. WhatsApp notes that the premium plan is entirely optional and does not impact the core messaging, calling, or privacy experience for non-subscribers.
The Plus version is likely to give the messaging platform, which has the largest subscriber base, an edge over the other platforms, which are still stuck with static UI and features.
Who should consider WhatsApp Plus?
Under the reported pricing structure, WhatsApp Plus could appeal to users who depend heavily on the messaging platform for daily communication. Its additional features, including interface customisation, personalised ringtones, and productivity-focused tools, may help enhance the overall user experience.
For casual users, however, the standard free version of WhatsApp is likely to remain the more practical choice.
