WhatsApp Price History

Yes. Messaging, voice and video calls, and end-to-end encryption remain completely free. What changed in 2026 is the launch of WhatsApp Plus, an optional $2.99-per-month subscription for cosmetic and convenience extras — WhatsApp's first consumer subscription since it dropped its old $0.99-per-year fee a decade ago.

For $2.99 per month, WhatsApp Plus adds app themes, custom app icons, premium stickers, custom ringtones, list customization and up to 20 pinned chats (versus 3 on the free app). Core messaging features are unchanged — Plus is purely about personalization.

Yes. WhatsApp charged a $0.99 annual fee in its early years, dropped it on January 18, 2016, and stayed entirely free for ten years. WhatsApp Plus, launched May 27, 2026, is its first paid consumer offering since then — but this time it's optional.

No. WhatsApp Plus is a set of cosmetic perks — it doesn't change ads elsewhere in Meta's apps, and end-to-end encryption applies to every user, free or Plus, exactly the same.

WhatsApp Plus can only be purchased inside the iPhone or Android app, so billing runs through Apple or Google. To cancel, use your device's subscription settings (Settings → Subscriptions on iPhone, or Google Play → Payments & subscriptions on Android); perks last until the end of the paid period.

No. WhatsApp Plus is only available on the regular WhatsApp Messenger app, not WhatsApp Business. Businesses have a separate offering, Meta Verified for WhatsApp Business, aimed at verification and support rather than customization.