WhatsApp may soon expand advertising across more regions, while offering users a paid option to remove ads entirely. Code discovered in WhatsApp’s Android beta version 2.26.3.9 suggests the company is testing a monthly subscription that delivers an ad-free experience.
According to screenshots shared by WABetaInfo, the subscription is aimed at users in Europe and the UK and could cost around €4 per month. While Meta has not confirmed pricing, the test points to a broader shift in how WhatsApp plans to monetize its user base.
Ads on WhatsApp currently appear in the Updates tab, where users view Status posts and browse Channels. These include Status Ads, which appear between updates, and Promoted Channels, shown as recommendations.
Under the proposed subscription, these ads would be removed. Subscribers would no longer see promoted content after Status updates or sponsored Channel suggestions. Core services, including private messaging, voice calls, and video calls, would remain free for all users.
Meta first introduced ads in WhatsApp’s Updates tab in the United States last year before expanding them to other regions. The company has said that ad targeting does not rely on private chat data. Instead, ads are shown based on factors such as language, general location, and activity within the Updates tab.
Meta has positioned the ad system as a way for businesses to reach WhatsApp’s user base of more than 1.5 billion people.
The paid, ad-free option aligns with regulations in Europe and the UK that require platforms to offer users a choice between ad-supported access and paid alternatives. Similar subscription models are already in place on Facebook and Instagram in those regions.
Subscriptions would be handled through Google Play in-app purchases. Once activated, it could take up to 15 minutes for changes to apply. It remains unclear whether the plan will be exclusive to WhatsApp or bundled through Meta’s broader Accounts Center across multiple apps.
The subscription will remain optional. Users who stay on the free tier will continue to see ads in the Updates tab. WhatsApp has not announced a launch timeline, saying the feature is still under development and must meet regulatory requirements before release.
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