What Is WhatsApp Plus and Who Can Get It on iOS?
Meta is quietly testing a new WhatsApp Plus subscription on iOS, extending a pilot that first appeared on Android. The premium plan is optional and currently limited to select users, who are seeing it offered directly through the App Store. WhatsApp Plus is positioned as an add-on for people who want more ways to organise and personalise their messaging experience rather than a replacement for the free app. Meta has not made a formal launch announcement, and availability remains patchy, with access slowly expanding over the coming weeks. Early testers report that the tier focuses on cosmetic and organisational upgrades rather than core messaging features. For now, this means iOS users lucky enough to be in the test group can experiment with extra tools and aesthetics, while everyone else continues using the standard WhatsApp experience at no additional cost.
Pricing and Key iOS Premium Features
According to early reports, the WhatsApp Plus subscription costs about €2.49 per month in Europe, with Meta said to be offering some users a free one-month trial. In return, subscribers unlock a bundle of iOS premium features aimed at customisation and productivity. The headline upgrades include the ability to send premium stickers, apply new app themes, and pick a custom app icon. Users can choose from 14 colour variants for the icon, giving the app a more tailored look on the home screen. WhatsApp Plus also adds premium ringtones, with 10 exclusive options, and lets subscribers pin up to 20 chats instead of just three. Beyond aesthetics, the plan introduces tools to upgrade chat lists, making it easier to perform batch actions across multiple conversations for faster inbox management.
Custom Themes, Stickers, and Chat Lists: What You Actually Gain
The WhatsApp Plus subscription focuses heavily on personalisation, targeting users who care about a distinctive look and feel. Premium stickers and custom themes allow conversations to stand out visually, going beyond the relatively plain appearance of the free version. Being able to apply themes to chat lists in bulk is especially useful for power users: you can group important conversations into lists and give each group its own aesthetic. The ability to pin up to 20 chats reshapes how your inbox works, keeping work, family, or project threads permanently visible instead of buried. Custom app icons and premium ringtones extend that identity to your home screen and notifications. These upgrades don’t change encryption or core messaging, but they turn WhatsApp from a purely functional tool into something closer to a personalised messaging hub.
A Shift in Meta’s Monetization Strategy for Messaging
WhatsApp Plus marks a clear move toward a broader WhatsApp paid tier strategy that goes beyond the company’s traditional reliance on ads elsewhere in its ecosystem. Rather than injecting advertising into WhatsApp, Meta is experimenting with optional subscriptions that promise extra value while keeping the core app free. This aligns with similar tests like Instagram Plus, which offers Story-related perks for around $2 (approx. RM9.30). For Meta, subscriptions offer recurring revenue and a way to segment its massive user base by willingness to pay for extra features. For users, the upside is that monetization is tied to add-ons—like custom themes and stickers—rather than intrusive ad units. If WhatsApp Plus proves popular on iOS, it could open the door to future tiers focused on productivity, business tools, or advanced media sharing.
Is WhatsApp Plus Worth Paying For Right Now?
Whether the WhatsApp Plus subscription is worth the monthly fee depends on how much you value visual customisation and inbox control. If you mainly use WhatsApp for basic messaging and occasional group chats, the free experience already covers all essentials, and the upgrade may feel largely cosmetic. However, users who live inside the app—juggling work, communities, and personal conversations—might find real value in pinning up to 20 chats and applying changes across multiple chat lists at once. Custom themes, stickers, icons, and ringtones can also make WhatsApp feel more expressive and less generic. Given that the rollout is still limited and features may evolve, the most sensible approach for eligible iOS users is to try any free trial on offer, stress-test the premium tools in daily use, and then decide if the ongoing cost matches the boost in comfort and productivity.