WhatsApp has begun testing a paid subscription service called WhatsApp Plus in select regions around the world, including Pakistan, marking the messaging platform’s first formal move into premium tier monetisation for consumer users. While the public test remains limited to a small number of users on the latest version of the application, pricing details have been confirmed by WABetaInfo, the platform known for tracking WhatsApp features through beta versions and early test releases. According to their report, WhatsApp Plus will be priced at PKR 230 per month in Pakistan, positioning it in line with other localised subscription services such as Spotify and Netflix in terms of regional pricing tiers. For context, the same subscription will cost 2.49 euros per month in Europe and MXN 29 per month in Mexico.
The subscription unlocks a range of customisation and organisational features that go beyond what the free version offers. On the personalisation front, subscribers gain access to 18 new colour themes including Vibrant Blue, Royal Purple, Deep Navy, Bright Lavender, Charcoal Grey, Coral Orange, Forest Green, Teal, Burgundy, Earl Brown, Sandy Beige, Emerald Green, Bright Yellow, Olive Green, Fuchsia Pink, Crimson Red, Sunset Orange, and Golden Yellow. In addition, 14 new application icons are available, ranging from standard designs to more visually distinctive options featuring glitter finishes, glowing electric blue tones, cosmic-themed designs, clay-like textures, soft fuzzy appearances, and minimalist pastel styles in lavender, sky blue, and peach, as well as outlined designs in light green and high-contrast black and white. Ten exclusive ringtones are also included in the subscription, giving users more options to differentiate incoming calls and messages.
On the functional side, one of the more practical additions is the ability to pin up to 20 chats simultaneously, a significant increase from the three pins available on free accounts, which should meaningfully improve chat organisation for users managing large numbers of active conversations. The premium plan also introduces bulk settings management, allowing users to apply themes, notification tones, and call ringtones across entire chat lists at once, with preferences automatically applied to any new chat added to a list. The premium sticker feature adds packs with enhanced visual effects including overlay animations that expand across the screen when sent, with the animated effect visible to the recipient even if they are not subscribed to the premium plan. WhatsApp Plus is currently available on Android only, with an iOS release planned for a later stage, and remains in limited testing rather than a full public rollout at this point.
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