WhatsApp rolls out premium subscription to select iOS users

WhatsApp has begun rolling out its paid premium subscription service, known as WhatsApp Plus, to a limited number of iOS users, with broader availability expected in the coming weeks.

The subscription, which first appeared in beta on Android devices last month, offers enhanced customization and management options for the messaging app owned by Meta. Core features such as messaging, voice and video calls, file sharing, status updates, and end-to-end encryption remain free for all users. WhatsApp Plus is positioned as an optional add-on, currently available only to standard personal accounts and not WhatsApp Business users.

Key features include the ability to pin up to 20 chats, a significant increase from the standard limit of three, aiding users with high volumes of conversations across work and personal groups. Subscribers can create custom chat lists, such as for colleagues, and apply uniform settings like themes, notification sounds, or ringtones across all chats in the list simultaneously. Additional perks encompass 18 alternative accent colors to replace the default green interface, 14 custom app icons ranging from minimalist to artistic designs, exclusive animated sticker...