Meta is quietly experimenting with a new subscription layer for WhatsApp, signalling a broader push toward premium features across its platforms. The move comes just weeks after the company began testing a similar paid tier for Instagram. According to the company, the offering, tentatively called WhatsApp Plus, is entirely optional and aimed at users looking for greater control over how they use and customise the app.

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In its current form, the subscription focuses on personalisation and enhanced functionality rather than core messaging changes. Users in the test group can access premium stickers, apply new themes, and even switch to custom app icons. The update also expands practical features, such as increasing the number of pinned chats from 3 to 20, something likely to appeal to power users who manage multiple conversations daily.

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Additional perks include premium ringtones and more advanced options for organising chat lists, suggesting that Meta is targeting users who want a more tailored and efficient messaging experience.

While still in the testing phase, the initiative reflects Meta’s evolving strategy of layering paid features onto its free services. Whether WhatsApp Plus will roll out more widely and how users respond to paying for enhancements on a traditionally free platform remains to be seen.