Meta has officially confirmed it is testing a paid subscription for WhatsApp called WhatsApp Plus. The test went live quietly for a limited group of Android beta users before being picked up by trackers and later confirmed by the company.

According to a statement by Meta Platforms, Inc. obtained by TechCrunch: “WhatsApp is testing a new, optional subscription called WhatsApp Plus, designed for users who want more ways to organise and personalise their experience. Premium features include expanded pinned chats, custom lists, new chat themes, and more. We’re starting with a small test to gather feedback and ensure we’re building something people find genuinely valuable.”

The subscription, pegged at $2.99 per month, is currently available only to select users running the latest WhatsApp Android beta, with iOS support expected at a later stage.

The pitch is personalisation, not extra communication tools. Messaging, voice calls, and video calls remain completely free, with the subscription layering optional upgrades on top rather than restricting anything users already have.

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The subscription perks include the ability to pin up to 20 chats, compared to the three that free users are limited to. Subscribers can also choose from 18 colour themes applied consistently across the entire app interface, finally allowing users to move beyond WhatsApp’s signature green.

The package also includes 14 alternate app icons, 10 exclusive ringtones designed specifically for WhatsApp calls, and exclusive animated sticker packs with full-screen overlay effects that remain visible even to recipients who are not subscribed.

WhatsApp Plus forms part of a broader effort by Meta Platforms, Inc. to build subscription revenue across its family of apps. Instagram tested a similar paid tier last month, with Facebook also reportedly in the pipeline.

The move brings WhatsApp closer to Telegram, which has offered deep customisation options for years and has long catered to power users, an area where WhatsApp has historically lagged.

Meta’s messaging business is already substantial. The company reported that WhatsApp revenue crossed a $2 billion annualised run rate in Q4 2025, driven largely by business messaging and click-to-WhatsApp ads. WhatsApp Plus represents a new, more direct revenue stream that does not rely on advertisers and does not alter the core experience that has built WhatsApp’s more than 3 billion-user base.

Privacy and security remain unchanged. End-to-end encryption continues to protect all conversations, and the subscription is not yet available to WhatsApp Business accounts. No official launch date has been announced.