What does WhatsApp cost? The overview
WhatsApp originally cost nothing, but that has changed several times over the years. What WhatsApp currently costs is therefore no longer easy to see for many. In this practical tip, we have broken down the WhatsApp cost model (as of May 13, 2015).
You incur these costs when using WhatsApp
- The download of WhatsApp is basically free of charge.
- In the first year of use, you will also not incur any costs for the messenger service. After that, however, the app becomes chargeable, whereby you can choose between different subscription models.
- The most common model is likely to be the one-year subscription, where you pay around 90 cents for using the messenger service. For users of Windows Phone, Blackberry or Symbian, the cost of the annual subscription is even 10 cents cheaper.
- If you take out a subscription for three years, you pay a total of EUR 2.40.
- If you are sure that you will not be able to do without WhatsApp for the next five years, there is still a five-year subscription available that will cost you around EUR 3.40.
- If you downloaded WhatsApp for your iOS by July 2013 - and paid the one-time purchase price of around 90 cents, you can now look forward to it. At the time, the purchase included a lifetime of free use that is still valid. This also applies if you switch to a different operating system. There is a catch, however, if you change your number, you will also lose the free subscription, as this is tied to a number.
- WhatsApp offers you several options when it comes to paying. For example, you can pay with PayPal as well as with a credit or gift card in the iTunes or Google Store. With some mobile phone providers, the amount is also debited directly from your mobile phone bill.
If you want to save costs, you may be interested in how the free messenger service Wire performed compared to WhatsApp.