This week, WhatsApp made important strides in personalization, privacy, and ease of communication. Read about key new features in this article: creating custom audiences for statuses, launching a paid WhatsApp Plus subscription, a summary of all unread chats, quickly stopping business messaging, faster sticker creation, and built-in notification bubbles for Android.
Table of Contents
Status Lists and “Close Friends”
WhatsApp is working on a feature that will allow users to create status lists for their close friends.
How it will work
Users will be able to create multiple named contact lists for posting statuses (e.g., “Family,” “Colleagues”). A preset “Close Friends” list will also be available. When posting a status, users can select any of the lists. These statuses will be highlighted in purple, and recipients will see that the content is intended only for them (but will not see other list members).
Why it’s needed
Saves the need to reset privacy settings (“Only…,” “Everyone except…”). Allows you to easily share different statuses with different audiences.
Status
This feature is in development for iOS. A release is expected in a future update.
WhatsApp Plus – a paid subscription with exclusive features
WhatsApp is introducing an additional plan called WhatsApp Plus, which offers new features for users seeking a more personalized messaging experience.
How it will work
A limited number of Android users have gained access to the WhatsApp Plus subscription (~€2.49/month). Includes:
- Premium stickers with overlay animation (visible even for recipients without a subscription).
- 18 interface color themes (from Vibrant Blue to Golden Yellow).
- 14 new app icons (Sparkle, Galaxy, Clay, Neon, etc.).
- Pin up to 20 chats (instead of the usual 3).
- 10 exclusive ringtones (Arpeggio, Journey, Unfold, etc.).
- Bulk settings for chat lists (theme, notification sound, and ringtone apply to all chats in the list).
Subscriptions are automatically renewed and can be canceled through Google Play.
Why it’s needed
For those who want to customize WhatsApp as much as possible and get additional convenience. Core features (messaging, calling, privacy) remain free.
Status
This feature is available to a limited number of Android beta testers. Some users can get a free month-long trial. iOS support is planned for later.
Summary of all unread chats
WhatsApp is working on a feature that will allow users to create personal summaries of unread messages.
How it will work
A “Get Summary” button will appear in the unread chat list. When you tap it, the AI will analyze all unread messages and generate a single summary. WhatsApp will not see the content.
Why it’s needed
Saves time by eliminating the need to request a summary for each chat individually. This is especially useful when you have a large number of unread conversations.
Status
Feature in development for iOS. Expected in a future update.
Quickly stop messages from businesses
WhatsApp is exploring the possibility of implementing a feature that will give Android users more control over messages received from business accounts.
How it will work
In a chat with a business account using cloud providers, a new panel will appear with information (name, location, category) and a “Stop” button. Clicking this button allows you to choose to not receive marketing messages for 1 hour, 1 week, or forever. Buttons for viewing profiles and adding to contacts are also available.
Why it’s needed
Quickly and conveniently get rid of annoying offers without completely blocking your business. The information panel helps you understand who is messaging you.
Status
Feature in development for Android. Expected in a future update.
Instant sticker creation from photos
WhatsApp is introducing a feature that allows users to quickly create and copy stickers from images.
How it will work
Tapping on any image reveals a new menu with two options:
- “Create sticker” opens an editor with a selection of options.
- “Copy sticker” automatically selects the best selection option for the object, allowing you to instantly add it to favorites, save it to a set, edit it, or send it.
Why it’s needed
This feature significantly speeds up sticker creation—no need to navigate through a cluttered menu and manually select the selection. The process is now as fast as on iOS.
Status
This feature is currently available to some Android beta testers. It will gradually be available to more users.
Notification bubbles for quick replies
WhatsApp is working on a pop-up notification feature to improve the display of conversations on Android in the future.
How it will work
WhatsApp integrates with Android’s system notification bubbles (available since Android 11). When you receive a new message, a floating circle with your avatar and the WhatsApp icon appears on the screen. Tapping it opens a mini-chat where you can read and reply without leaving the current app (YouTube, browser, etc.). Bubbles can be moved, minimized, and disabled in settings.
Why it’s needed
This simplifies multitasking—you don’t have to switch between apps to reply to a message. The conversation is always at your fingertips.
Status
This feature is in development for Android. A release is expected in a future update.
Conclusion
WhatsApp is actively implementing features that make the app both more flexible and more user-friendly. A paid subscription doesn’t detract from the basic features, but rather adds personalization for enthusiasts.
At GREEN-API, we’re keeping an eye on the news and will keep you informed about all the important updates. We’re also constantly working to introduce new features to our service to make your experience even more convenient. Follow our blog to stay informed about new and useful features in WhatsApp!