This week, WhatsApp continues to develop its ecosystem: the paid WhatsApp Plus subscription became available to a limited number of iOS users, the web client is getting chat themes, and group administrators will be able to customize welcome messages. Additionally, the messenger is updating its message design on iOS, adding quick reactions to statuses, and updating the business app icon.
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WhatsApp Plus for iOS
WhatsApp is launching a paid WhatsApp Plus subscription on iOS, which provides access to exclusive customization features for a small monthly fee.
How it works
Subscribers receive: premium stickers with overlay animations, 18 interface color themes, 14 new app icons, the ability to pin up to 20 chats, bulk customization for lists (theme, ringtone, notification sound), and 10 exclusive ringtones (Flutter, Tempo, Ripple, Quest, and others). The subscription automatically renews and can be canceled through the App Store. The price starts at €2.49 per month (varies by region).
Why it’s needed
For users who want to personalize WhatsApp to suit their style and get advanced features without losing core functionality. All core features (messaging, calling, privacy) remain free.
Status
WhatsApp Plus is available to a limited number of iOS users via the App Store. A wider audience is expected in the coming weeks.
Chat Themes on WhatsApp Web
WhatsApp is preparing the ability to customize chat themes for the web client, allowing users to change the color of chat bubbles and background images.
How it works
Users will be able to choose from 39 themes (49 were previously planned, but the set was reduced for quality reasons) in settings or from the chat details. Eight themes include vibrant background images. Themes can be applied globally or individually for each chat. Other users will not see the changes.
Why it’s needed
To unify the visual experience between mobile devices and the web client. This makes it easier to distinguish chats by color and makes the interface more personalized.
Status
This feature is in development. Expected to be released in a future WhatsApp Web update.
Welcome Messages in Groups
WhatsApp is working on a feature that will allow administrators to automatically send a welcome message to new group members.
How it works
A new option for customizing a welcome message will be added to the group permissions settings. This message is sent automatically when a new member joins. A group can only have one welcome message (even if there are multiple admins). This feature is disabled by default and must be enabled manually.
Why it’s needed
It helps newcomers immediately understand the group’s goals and rules and feel welcome. It simplifies onboarding, especially in larger communities.
Status
This feature is in development for Android. A release is expected in a future update.
New Message Design on iOS
WhatsApp is bringing a refreshed message design to iOS with fully rounded bubbles and frameless media.
How it works
Messages now have a significantly increased corner radius (closer to iMessage). Photos, videos, and GIFs are displayed without the traditional border, integrating directly into the conversation. A small information panel (name, forwarded note) is retained in groups and on forwarded media.
Why it’s needed
Refreshes the visual style, making the interface more modern and lightweight. Multimedia now fits more naturally into the feed.
Status
This feature is in development for iOS. Will be available in a future update.
Quick reactions to statuses
WhatsApp is testing a faster way to react to statuses on Android—three frequently used emoji have been moved directly to the reply bar.
How it works
When viewing a status, the reply bar now displays three icons: 😍 (smiling face with hearts), 😂 (laughing until tears), and 😮 (open mouth). One tap and the reaction is sent. The old method (swiping up to choose from the full set) remains.
Why it’s needed
Speeds up interaction, lowers the threshold for sending reactions. Makes the feature more visible to new users.
Status
This feature is available to some Android beta testers. It will gradually be available to more users.
New WhatsApp Business Icon on iOS
WhatsApp Business is updating its iOS app icon, bringing it in line with the recently updated WhatsApp Messenger icon.
How it works
The icon is becoming flatter and more minimalist, with soft gradients and a clean green hue. The Business version will retain the distinctive “+” symbol. The update is currently only available to beta testers via TestFlight.
Why it’s needed
A visual refresh after several years of unchanged design. Unifying the style between the two versions of the app. Some attribute the update to Apple’s overall commitment to Liquid Glass.
Status
The new icon is available to WhatsApp Business beta testers for iOS. It will be available in the App Store for all users soon.
Conclusion
This week, WhatsApp focused on developing its paid ecosystem, unifying its design, and improving the group experience. Quick status reactions and an archive of expired statuses continue to make the platform more convenient for everyday communication.
At GREEN-API, we’re keeping an eye on the latest news and will keep you updated on any significant 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 up-to-date on new and useful features in WhatsApp!