WhatsApp tests paid tier for the first time globally
On Techpoint Digest, we discuss how Meta begins monetising WhatsApp users directly, Flutterwave pushes back on $75M Nigeria deal reports, and Terra builds Africa’s largest drone factory in Ghana.
Hujambo,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
Meta begins monetising WhatsApp users directly
Flutterwave pushes back on $75M Nigeria deal reports
Terra builds Africa’s largest drone factory in Ghana
Meta begins monetising WhatsApp users directly
Photo by Amanz on Unsplash
WhatsApp just did something it has avoided for years. The platform is testing a paid tier. On April 20, 2026, a new subscription called WhatsApp Plus started rolling out to a small group of Android beta users, offering extra features like custom themes, more pinned chats, and chat organisation tools for a monthly fee. The core app isn’t changing: messaging, calls, and encryption all stay free.
What this really is, at least for now, is a cosmetic upsell. WhatsApp Plus doesn’t unlock new ways to message people; it just makes the experience more personalised. But the bigger signal is that Meta Platforms is now leaning fully into subscriptions across its apps, after already testing similar models on Instagram and Facebook.
That shift matters more in Africa than almost anywhere else. In countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, WhatsApp isn’t just a messaging app; it’s how people run businesses, talk to family, and stay connected cheaply. The subscription itself is optional and relatively affordable, but it raises a bigger question: what parts of the experience might eventually move behind a paywall?
This isn’t entirely new territory. WhatsApp actually charged a small annual fee years ago before dropping it after its acquisition by Facebook (now Meta). And across the industry, platforms like Snapchat+ and Telegram Premium have shown that users will pay for extras, even if the main product stays free.
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