WhatsApp is reportedly working on an optional paid subscription plan that gives users access to exclusive premium features while keeping core messaging free. According to reports, the subscription is currently in development and has begun appearing in beta releases, with WhatsApp planning to roll it out via a waitlist system before wider availability.
Early details suggest the premium tier may include:
• Exclusive sticker packs and themes
• Ability to pin more chats
• Custom app icons and chat ringtones
• Enhanced personalisation and productivity tools
These features are optional add-ons, the main WhatsApp experience (messaging, calls, encryption) is expected to remain free and unchanged for all users.
We already had signal. While it had a controversy or two, it remains one of most viable alternatives. But none of my contacts in India use that though.
There is also zoho’s messenger (I think it was called arattai) with e2e encryption.
I do not recommend telegram though.
RCS is used a lot in US but in India RCS is mainly used to spam ads.
If everyone can get used to WhatsApp from sms, we can switch too. It won’t be that easy, but it is doable
whatsapp back in the day had subscriptions. i remember it being ₹50/year. and i’m perfectly happy to pay that price once again; just my condition is that they keep it ad-free and business free… but as we know these corpos won’t stop at that and will keep raising prices and the usual tactics. sigh
tbh, it isn’t that secure. Normal chats aren’t e2e encrypted and only secret chats are actually private. After the arrest of pavel, they even changed their policy and data can now be requested by authorities easily.
