Meta starts charging for WhatsApp - what users will get

Meta has begun rolling out a paid subscription called WhatsApp Plus, priced at $2.99 per month. Users are promised additional customization and personalization features for the messenger, but many of these features are already available for free. The subscription includes exclusive sticker packs, additional chat themes, new notification sounds, the ability to change the app icon, and an expanded limit for pinned chats. However, many of these options can be obtained without a monthly fee. WhatsApp already allows changing wallpapers and message colors, and additional stickers can be easily added through third-party apps or created yourself. Users can also set custom ringtones for individual contacts through smartphone settings. On Android, launchers and built-in shell features allow changing the app icon's appearance, while on iPhone, shortcuts can be used. The expanded limit for pinned chats also doesn't seem critical. The messenger already has a 'Lists' feature that allows categorizing conversations and finding the right chats faster. Thus, WhatsApp Plus primarily offers convenient access to personalization tools in one place. However, the subscription doesn't yet provide significant features unavailable to free users. Before paying, users should check the standard app settings and smartphone capabilities. For most WhatsApp owners, the benefits of the new subscription may not be enough to justify the monthly cost.