WhatsApp May Introduce €4 Monthly Subscription With No Added Features
WhatsApp is reportedly testing a paid subscription model that would allow users to remove advertisements from the app, without offering any additional features, according to findings from its Android beta version.
Details discovered in WhatsApp beta version 2.26.3.9 suggest that the Meta-owned messaging platform is experimenting with a monthly subscription that would provide an ad-free experience. Screenshots shared by WABetaInfo indicate that the proposed subscription is aimed at users in Europe and the United Kingdom, with an estimated cost of around €4 per month, though Meta has not officially confirmed the pricing.
Currently, advertisements on WhatsApp are limited to the Updates tab, which includes Status posts and Channels. These ads appear as Status Ads between updates and Promoted Channels recommended to users. Under the proposed subscription, these advertisements would be removed, while core services such as private messaging, voice calls and video calls would continue to remain free.
Meta introduced advertisements in WhatsApp’s Updates tab in the United States last year and has gradually expanded the feature to other regions. The company has maintained that ad targeting does not rely on private chat content, instead using signals such as language, general location and user activity within the Updates tab.
The reported move comes as platforms operating in Europe and the UK face regulatory requirements to provide users with a choice between ad-supported services and paid, ad-free alternatives. Meta has already rolled out similar subscription options on Facebook and Instagram in these markets.
According to the report, subscriptions would be handled through Google Play in-app purchases, with changes taking effect shortly after activation. It remains unclear whether the ad-free option would apply only to WhatsApp or be bundled with other Meta platforms through the Accounts Center.
