WhatsApp prepares a paid Plus subscription

WhatsApp is actively developing a premium tier called Plus, Android Police reports. The feature is already in beta testing.

The core functionality of the app will remain free for all users. The paid subscription will follow a model similar to Telegram Premium, offering additional features.

One of the additions will be exclusive notification sounds. Subscribers will get access to ten unique ringtones, including “Arpeggio,” “Chirp,” and “Journey.”

Users will also be able to assign custom sounds to individual contacts, making it possible to recognize who is calling without looking at the phone.

Customization options will expand significantly. Subscribers will be able to replace the default green app icon with one of 15 alternatives, including 3D and monochrome versions.

The app interface can also be recolored using one of 19 available themes. Changing the theme will affect buttons and pop-up menus, while chat backgrounds can still be customized separately.

From a practical standpoint, the subscription will increase the limit for pinned chats. Instead of three conversations, users will be able to pin up to 20 chats at the top of the list.

In the future, developers may remove additional restrictions for paid subscribers, including longer status durations and larger file transfer limits.