WhatsApp may soon push ads deeper into multiple regions across the globe, and users who want a clean, ad-free experience could have to pay for it.
Code spotted in WhatsApp’s Android beta version 2.26.3.9 (via Wabetainfo) suggests the company is testing a paid subscription that removes ads entirely. The plan is aimed at users in Europe and the UK and is priced at around €4 per month, according to early beta screenshots. While Meta has not confirmed the final cost, the move signals a clear shift in how WhatsApp plans to monetize its massive user base.
Ads currently appear in WhatsApp’s Updates tab, where users view Status posts and browse Channels. These include Status Ads that show up after updates and Promoted Channels pushed as recommendations. Under the new subscription, these ads would disappear. Subscribers would no longer see promoted content after status updates, nor would they receive sponsored channel suggestions. Core features such as private messaging, voice calls, and video calls would remain free for all users.
Meta first introduced ads in WhatsApp’s Updates tab in the United States last year and later expanded them to other regions. The company says these ads do not use data from private chats. Instead, ad targeting is based on language, general location, and user activity within the Updates tab. Meta has promoted this system as a way for businesses to reach more than 1.5 billion WhatsApp users.
The paid option aligns with European and UK regulations, which require platforms to give users a choice between ad-supported and paid experiences. Similar subscription models already exist on Facebook and Instagram in these regions.
Subscriptions would be managed through Google Play in-app purchases. Once activated, changes may take up to 15 minutes to apply. It is still unclear whether this will be a standalone WhatsApp subscription or part of a broader Meta Accounts Center plan that could cover multiple apps.
For now, the subscription is optional. Users who stay on the free tier will continue to see ads in the Updates tab. WhatsApp has not shared a launch timeline, saying the feature is still under development and must meet regulatory requirements before release.
In related news, WhatsApp is preparing to replace Tenor with Klipy as a default GIF provider after Tenor announced it will shut down its API on June 30, 2026. The transition, spotted in a recent iOS beta, will happen automatically for users, with Klipy-branded GIFs appearing in chats.
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