WhatsApp Plus launched in South Africa

[mylesillidge]

WhatsApp launches R29 subscription in South Africa

Meta Platforms has launched its WhatsApp Plus subscription in South Africa, giving users of the popular chat app several additional features for a monthly fee of R28.99.

The US social media giant began testing the subscription in April 2026, explaining that it was designed for users seeking more ways to organise and personalise their experience.

 

[RedViking]

Only idiots would subscribe to features that are free on tiktok

 

[Smiggles]

I'll pay if it allows me to remove Meta AI and get a proper Windows app again that's not Electron based.

 

[HumanShield]

30 bucks a month for stickers and a different colour app icon. you must be really braindead to buy this subscription. especially when there are no other features to enhace the actual chat feature.

 

[netstrider]

30 bucks a month for stickers and a different colour app icon. you must be really braindead to buy this subscription. especially when there are no other features to enhace the actual chat feature.

Indeed.

However, this is how they start. Eventually, if you want the "seen" feature you will have to pay. Next you will be capped on the amount of data you can send and file size limits etc.

 

[Diesal]

Pepperidge farm remembers when WhatsApp launched, they wanted to charge like R8 a month or something for the service.

I was on a Windows phone so my subscription never expired for some or other reason

Back in the day when BBM was still the hotness…

 

[ToxicBunny]

This is quite funny.

Its the "ringtone era" all over again.

 

[ToxicBunny]

I'll pay if it allows me to remove Meta AI and get a proper Windows app again that's not Electron based.

Crap, I'm not supposed to agree with you.. but yeah, I'd pay (not necessarily R30 a month) if I could just get rid of the Meta AI crap, and to disable Voice calls in groups permanently.

 

[Superjakes]

If they charge to disable voice notes. I'm in.

 

[sensus communis]

Crap, I'm not supposed to agree with you.. but yeah, I'd pay (not necessarily R30 a month) if I could just get rid of the Meta AI crap, and to disable Voice calls in groups permanently.

I’d be willing to pay just so I don’t have to see messages from the aunties I blocked in the neighborhood group chat.

 

[FiestaST]

Would love to know who the "target market" is with those benefits.

Don't say "power users", whatever that is.

 

[gconey]

The writing is on the wall, let the enshittification commence

 

[WollieVerstege]

WhatsApp launches R29 subscription in South Africa

Meta Platforms has launched its WhatsApp Plus subscription in South Africa, giving users of the popular chat app several additional features for a monthly fee of R28.99.

The US social media giant began testing the subscription in April 2026, explaining that it was designed for users seeking more ways to organise and personalise their experience.

How boring and crap does your life to be that you think it is a good idea to pay to do this.

 

[Werner1975]

No thanks, free version is fine for me.

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

tip of the iceberg of what comes next, they need to start making money off whatsapp now that they brought it.

 

[PlutoForrest]

All I gotta say is "WHY?"

 

[SHL]

Next up...Ads!!!!

 

[Fuzzbox]

The Zuck has to catch Elon somehow.

 

[FiestaST]

It was 1 USD, I was there. Around '09/'10:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2067904797399712101

 

[Kung Fu Porkchop]

It was 1 USD, I was there. Around '09/'10:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2067904797399712101

I forgot about this!