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WhatsApp may soon let users pay to eliminate ads from its Updates tab, according to code discovered in an Android beta. Early screenshots hint at a roughly €4-per-month option aimed at Europe and the UK — a shift that could change how millions experience the app.
What the paid option actually removes
The subscription appears focused solely on ads in the Updates area, where Status posts and Channels live. That means Status Ads and promoted channel suggestions would vanish for subscribers — but core features like private messaging, voice calls and video calls would remain free. In short: you’d still text and call for free, you’d just stop seeing promotional content in Updates.
Why Meta is testing a pay tier
Meta first rolled ads into WhatsApp’s Updates tab in the U.S. and expanded them elsewhere to monetize the app’s massive audience. The company says the ads don’t read private chats; targeting is handled by language, broad location and activity inside the Updates tab. Offering a paid, ad-free alternative helps WhatsApp comply with European and UK rules that require platforms to provide both ad-supported and paid experiences. It’s also in line with similar subscription options already available on Facebook and Instagram in those regions.
How it would work for users
According to the beta, subscriptions would be handled through Google Play in-app purchases and may take up to 15 minutes to take effect. Screenshots imply a price around €4 per month, though Meta hasn’t confirmed final pricing. It’s still unclear whether the subscription will be a standalone WhatsApp purchase or part of a broader Meta Accounts Center package covering multiple apps. For now the choice looks optional — stay on the free tier and you keep seeing ads in Updates.
So what should you expect? If this launches, European and UK users could choose a tidy monthly fee to avoid promoted content in Updates while preserving the familiar chat and calling experience. For businesses, ads in Updates remain a way to reach a reported audience of over 1.5 billion WhatsApp users.
Klipy replaces Tenor as the default GIF provider
Separately, WhatsApp is preparing to swap Tenor for Klipy as its default GIF provider after Tenor announced it will shut down its API on June 30, 2026. The change — spotted in a recent iOS beta — will be automatic, with Klipy-branded GIFs appearing in chats once the transition rolls out. For users, it’s a background change, but one that keeps GIF search and sharing working after Tenor’s API goes offline.
Meta hasn’t provided a public launch timeline for the ad-free subscription or the GIF-provider switch. Both features remain in development and must clear regulatory checks before appearing widely.
Source: gizmochina
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