Meta has finally pulled the trigger on its first paid tier for the world’s most used messaging app. WhatsApp Plus is now quietly reaching iPhone users with custom colors, fresh app icons, premium stickers and a major chat pinning upgrade. The standard app stays completely free, but the new plan adds a fresh layer of personalisation. Here is everything you actually get for your money.
WhatsApp Plus Rollout Begins on iPhone Worldwide
WhatsApp has started pushing its brand new WhatsApp Plus subscription to a limited group of iPhone users on the latest App Store version. The rollout follows a month of Android beta testing that began in April 2026.
The launch was first flagged by WABetaInfo, the trusted leak tracker that monitors every WhatsApp build. According to the report, only a small set of iOS accounts can currently see the subscription option in their settings.
The plan does not yet appear in the United States or Canada. A broader release is expected to land in more regions over the coming weeks.
Importantly, WhatsApp Plus is only available on the regular WhatsApp Messenger app. Business accounts have been left out of this launch entirely.
WhatsApp Plus Price in Every Major Region
The subscription follows a low monthly billing model that varies sharply between countries. Meta is using regional pricing similar to its Instagram and Facebook premium tests.
Here is how the current WhatsApp Plus pricing looks based on screenshots seen by beta testers:
| Region | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Europe | €2.49 |
| United States (expected) | $2.49 to $2.99 |
| Mexico | $29 MXN |
| Pakistan | PKR 229 |
| India (estimated) | Around Rs. 284 |
Meta has not officially confirmed the India launch date or final pricing. The figure is based on a direct conversion from the European rate.
For context, that sits well below Telegram Premium, which costs roughly $4.99 per month for similar cosmetic perks.
All the New Features You Get on WhatsApp Plus
The premium plan currently bundles six headline features focused on personalisation and chat control. WhatsApp says more tools will be added in future updates.
The biggest highlight is the option to break free from the famous green WhatsApp look. Subscribers can pick from 18 fresh accent colors that change the entire interface tone.
The color palette includes:
- Vibrant Blue, Royal Purple and Deep Navy
- Bright Lavender, Charcoal Grey and Coral Orange
- Forest Green, Teal, Burgundy and Earl Brown
- Sandy Beige, Emerald Green and Bright Yellow
- Olive Green, Fuchsia Pink, Crimson Red, Sunset Orange and Golden Yellow
On top of that, paid users get 14 alternate app icons. The selection ranges from minimal black and white outlines to glittery, artistic and monochrome designs you can match to your iOS home screen.
WhatsApp Plus also opens access to premium sticker packs with full screen overlay animations. Free users can still see these animated stickers when a paid friend sends them, but they cannot download the packs themselves.
“The plan is light on practical features, and is aimed more at heavier users who want to customize various aspects of the WhatsApp experience.”
Ten new ringtones round out the audio refresh. Names include Flutter, Tempo, Ripple, Quest, Drum, Murmur, Flux, Meadow, Bubble and Carnival, all designed with a more modern sound.
The most practical upgrade is the chat pin limit jumping from 3 to a massive 20. For anyone juggling family threads, work groups and side hustles, that change alone could make the cost worth it.
Subscribers also unlock smarter chat list controls. You can group all work colleagues, family or clients into one list and apply a single theme, notification tone and ringtone to that entire group with one tap.
Free Trial, Auto Renewal and How to Check Eligibility
Some lucky users will not pay a single rupee or dollar on day one. WhatsApp is offering a free trial to selected accounts as part of the early rollout phase.
The trial period varies by region. Reports confirm it can last either one week or one full month depending on your country and account.
Quick Tip: The subscription auto renews every month through Apple’s App Store. To avoid being charged for the next cycle, cancel at least 24 hours before your renewal date directly from your iCloud subscription settings.
To check if WhatsApp Plus is live on your iPhone, follow these simple steps:
- Update WhatsApp to the latest version from the App Store.
- Open the app and tap Settings.
- Look for a new “WhatsApp Plus” section near your profile.
- If visible, tap it to view pricing and trial eligibility.
If the option does not appear yet, do not worry. Availability depends entirely on your region and account, and Meta is widening access in waves.
Is WhatsApp Going Fully Paid? Meta’s Bigger Strategy
The short answer is no. All core features of WhatsApp will stay 100 percent free for every user on the planet.
Messaging, voice calls, video calls, group chats, channels, status updates and end-to-end encryption are not touching the paywall. WhatsApp Plus is purely an optional add on for users who want extra styling and productivity tools.
Still, this is the biggest monetisation move on the consumer WhatsApp app since Meta scrapped the old $1 annual fee back in 2016. The company has openly confirmed it is rolling out paid tiers across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp as part of a broader subscription push.
A separate WhatsApp subscription that removes ads from Status and Channels is also said to be in development. That product is different from WhatsApp Plus and has not launched yet.
One serious word of caution. The official WhatsApp Plus has nothing to do with the unofficial modified APK floating around with the same name. Those third party clients can get your account banned permanently, carry malware risks and break end-to-end encryption guarantees.
For now, WhatsApp Plus looks a lot like Telegram Premium. It is cheap, cosmetic and entirely optional. Whether enough heavy users actually pay up will decide if Meta turns this experiment into a real revenue stream or quietly shelves it.
For more than two billion daily users, the message is simple. Your favourite green app is not going behind a paywall. You just have a new option if you want to make it your own. If WhatsApp Plus lands on your iPhone tomorrow, would you actually pay for it, or stick with the classic free experience that has worked just fine for years? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation on social media using #WhatsAppPlus.
