The era of the purely utilitarian messenger is giving way to a more customizable, tiered experience. Meta has begun rolling out "WhatsApp Plus," a paid subscription model currently in testing for select Android users. For a monthly fee of 2.49 euros, the service offers a suite of aesthetic and organizational upgrades that signal a shift in how the world’s most popular messaging app views its relationship with its massive user base.
The subscription is less about functional overhaul and more about digital identity. It introduces 18 new color themes that apply across the entire interface, alongside a selection of premium sticker packs, 14 distinct application icons, and 10 new ringtones. Beyond the visual, the service offers slight workflow improvements, such as the ability to pin up to 20 conversations—a significant increase for power users who find the current limit restrictive.
This move aligns WhatsApp with a broader industry trend where core communication remains free while "lifestyle" features are gated behind a paywall. By focusing on personalization rather than essential features, Meta avoids alienating its core audience while tapping into a segment of users willing to pay for a more bespoke digital environment. The rollout is expected to expand to iOS in the coming months, marking a new chapter in the platform’s monetization strategy.
With reporting from La Nación.
Source · La Nación — Tecnología
