Meta is testing a paid tier for WhatsApp

If you have been enjoying WhatsApp for free all these years, well, that is not changing, but there is now a fancy paid option on the horizon. WABetaInfo recently spotted a pop-up in the Android beta version.

Basically, Meta is working on a premium tier that unlocks exclusive goodies for your chats. Let’s dive in.

Pin more chats and customise the app’s look

Once subscribed, one of the goodies you’ll unlock is being able to pin more than just three chats. You will also reportedly be able to swap out the app icon and apply custom themes. Options that let you customise your experience with flashy stickers and dedicated chat ringtones are also reportedly being worked on.

WABetaInfo adds that this subscription would work via a waitlist system initially, so you can’t just sign up immediately.

Beyond WhatsApp, the company is set to trial similar premium subscriptions for Instagram and Facebook. For Instagram, leaks suggest a paid tier might let you secretly view Stories or see exactly who doesn’t follow you back.

ALSO READ: WhatsApp adds lockdown-style protection with Strict Account Settings

But that is not all. Separately, Meta recently dropped a cool $2 billion on Manus, a sophisticated AI agent that can actually do things for you rather than just chat. It seems highly likely that this new subscription will eventually hook into that. The company is also testing a tool called “Vibes,” an AI video generator. It looks like the paid tier might unlock more credits for that, too.

Obviously, some people might roll their eyes at yet another monthly bill they’d rather not pay. But Snapchat+ has already proven that many users are actually willing to spend cash money to tweak their app icons and feel a bit special. Meta seems to want a slice of that pie.