WhatsApp claims it won't display ads in chats, but ads may appear elsewhere on the app

WhatsApp is totally free after Meta purchased the app.

WhatsApp doesn't need a payment or subscription, even though it does offer some premium features. It is also ad-free, though the company has acknowledged that users may see adverts in other areas of the app in the future even though it insists it has no intention to introduce ads in chats.

WhatsApp boss Will Cathcart discussed the app's future and how Meta monetizes it in an interview with Folha de S. Paulo, a Brazilian publication. In answer to inquiries on the app's ad placement policy, Cathcart stressed that the business "will not place ads in the inbox or chats."

We don’t think that’s the right model. People, when they open their inbox, don’t want to see advertising.

He highlighted the possibility of ads appearing in the future on Public Channels and Status, which is WhatsApp's version of Stories. Cathcart did provide further suggestions for generating revenue for the service.

The WhatsApp Business API, which provides unique solutions for both small and large businesses, is one of WhatsApp's main revenue streams. Cathcart estimates that the business is worth $10 billion annually. WhatsApp might charge a commission for other premium services it offers in order to generate more income without depending on advertisements.

WhatsApp has thought about displaying advertisements to its users before. The platform attempted displaying ads when users were watching Status back in 2018. Internal concerns about how people might respond, particularly with regard to privacy issues, caused the concept to be postponed.