A post is being widely shared on social media platforms claiming that WhatsApp is soon going to charge users to use its premium features. Let’s verify the claim made in the post. Similar post can be seen here
Claim: WhatsApp is going to charge users to use its premium features.
Fact: WhatsApp Premium is an optional subscription plan available only for a few selected beta version users of ‘WhatsApp Business’ app. This feature is not released to users that use normal ‘WhatsApp’ app. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
We searched the internet with relevant keywords about this news and found a report published 06 October 2022 by wabetainfo.com, an independent website that announces news about WhatsApp, their updates and new features.
According to this report, WhatsApp is releasing subscription plan called WhatsApp Premium for certain businesses that install latest beta version of an Android and iOS app. WhatsApp Premium is an optional premium plan available for certain business accounts that they can join by opening WhatsApp settings: if there is a new section called “WhatsApp Premium” here, it means the business account is eligible to join the plan. The subscription fee may vary by country. This premium feature enables the business users to create personalized WhatsApp business link and multi-device (upto 10) connectivity through a single account simultaneously.
This report also mentions that since this is an exclusive business feature, this won’t be released to users that use the customer app (normal WhatsApp).
Citing the same report, Economic Times, Business Standard, NDTV reported this news.
Earlier in 2021, Factly had debunked a message that claimed WhatsApp will charge its users for sending messages. Also, there are no reports about WhatsApp planning to charge its customers for using the regular services like texting, calling, etc.
To sum it up, WhatsApp premium is an optional subscription plan which is available for WhatsApp Business users.
