WhatsApp begins charging South Africans

WhatsApp Plus, Meta Platforms’ elective paid subscription for its messaging app, is now out there to South African customers at R28.99/month, with the primary month free.

The tier is a part of a broader push by Meta to construct subscription income past its core promoting enterprise.

The corporate introduced the worldwide roll-out of shopper “Plus” subscriptions throughout WhatsApp, Fb and Instagram on 27 Might, with head of product Naomi Gleit unveiling the plans.

Meta has stated it doesn’t intend to cost for messaging or different core WhatsApp options, which stay free.

For R28.99/month, WhatsApp Plus provides six options: unique sticker packs, a customized app icon, new themes that recolour messages, icons and backgrounds, unique ringtones, enhanced chat lists for organising conversations, and the power to pin extra chats than the three free customers are restricted to. None of it modifications the core messaging expertise.

The native value is pitched effectively beneath the US$2.99 charged within the US (R49.27 on the time of writing). The in-app display screen notes that the R28.99 “might embrace taxes”. The free first month requires a fee technique upfront, and the subscription renews till cancelled.

WhatsApp Plus

To subscribe, iPhone customers faucet their profile icon and open the Subscriptions part below Settings; on Android, the choice sits below Settings by way of the three-dot menu on the house display screen.

WhatsApp Plus is one in every of a number of shopper subscriptions Meta has rolled out. Fb Plus and Instagram Plus are priced at $3.99/month globally and lean in the direction of profile customisation and story insights.

Learn: Main new safety function coming to WhatsApp

The corporate can be testing Meta AI subscriptions – Meta One Plus and Meta One Premium – although these usually are not but out there in South Africa.  – © 2026 NewsCentral Media