WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, used by over 2 billion people. With its simple interface, easy setup, and free messaging between users, WhatsApp has become an indispensable communication tool for many.
One of the main reasons for WhatsApp’s popularity is that it provides free messaging services. When WhatsApp was first launched in 2009, the app charged a subscription fee of $1 per year. However, in early 2016, WhatsApp dropped its subscription fees, making the app completely free to use. Since then, WhatsApp has remained free for all users.
Is WhatsApp really free?
Yes, WhatsApp is completely free to download, install, and use for messaging and calling capabilities. Users do not have to pay any subscription fees or in-app purchases to use the platform’s core features:
- Text messaging
- Group chats
- Photo and video sharing
- Voice and video calls
- Document sharing
WhatsApp still generates revenue through alternative means even though it does not charge users. In 2014, WhatsApp was acquired by Facebook for $19 billion. Facebook monetizes WhatsApp user data through targeted advertising on its other platforms like Facebook and Instagram. However, users’ conversations remain end-to-end encrypted.
Are there any hidden costs?
There are no hidden costs for using WhatsApp’s core features. The app is entirely free to download and use for messaging and calling without limitations. The company does not charge for creating an account, verifying a phone number, contacting other users, forming groups, sending media, or making voice and video calls.
However, there are some optional paid services within WhatsApp:
- WhatsApp Business – Businesses have to pay a fee to use advanced features like labels, greeting messages, and quick replies.
- International phone calls – Calling non-WhatsApp numbers internationally incurs a per-minute fee based on the destination.
Apart from these specific paid services aimed at businesses, regular WhatsApp users will never encounter any charges for using the platform’s core messaging and calling capabilities.
Do you need internet to use WhatsApp?
Yes, you need an active internet connection to use WhatsApp and its features. WhatsApp relies on internet access to send and receive messages, make calls, share media, and sync data across devices.
Here are the requirements for using WhatsApp:
- A smartphone with an internet data plan or Wi-Fi connectivity
- A phone number for registering your account
- An internet connection for sending/receiving messages and calls in real-time
Without internet access, WhatsApp cannot facilitate communication between users. All activities like messaging, voice notes, video calls, group chats, etc. require you to be connected to the internet. The app synchronizes all your chats and data across devices in real-time using the internet.
Can you use WhatsApp with only Wi-Fi?
Yes, you can use WhatsApp by connecting only via Wi-Fi, without a cellular data or phone plan. As long as you have access to a stable Wi-Fi network, you can use WhatsApp by registering with your phone number and verifying the account over Wi-Fi.
Here are some ways to access WhatsApp using only Wi-Fi:
- Using a smartphone connected only to Wi-Fi networks for messaging and calls
- Using WhatsApp Web on a PC browser by linking your account through QR code scanning
- Using WhatsApp Desktop app on a PC by syncing chats from your phone
The main requirement is that you have an active phone number to create your account and verify it on WhatsApp. As long as your phone has this number and remains connected to the internet through Wi-Fi, you can use WhatsApp without a cellular plan.
Can you use WhatsApp on a tablet or iPad?
Currently, you cannot directly install and use the WhatsApp app on tablets and iPads. WhatsApp is only designed for and compatible with smartphones running iOS and Android.
However, there are some workarounds to access WhatsApp on a tablet, such as:
- Linking your WhatsApp account through WhatsApp Web on a tablet’s browser
- Mirroring your phone’s screen and apps to a tablet using screen mirroring apps
- Using WhatsApp through an Android emulator on Windows tablets
But native WhatsApp support for tablets and iPads is still unavailable. The company has indicated that official WhatsApp apps optimized for larger screens may be launching in the future.
Can you use WhatsApp on multiple devices?
Yes, WhatsApp now allows using one account simultaneously on multiple devices. This multi-device capability allows you to stay connected up to 4 linked devices at once.
You can use WhatsApp Web and Desktop apps to sync your chats and messages from your smartphone. This means you can seamlessly continue conversations across your phone, computer, and tablet using the same account.
To enable multi-device on WhatsApp:
- Open WhatsApp on your smartphone
- Go to Settings > Linked Devices
- Tap on “Multi-device beta” and enable it
- Scan the QR code using WhatsApp Web/Desktop to link the device
Your primary device remains your smartphone. Without it, you cannot register new secondary devices or use WhatsApp on other devices if disconnected from the phone for over 14 days.
Can you use WhatsApp on PC/Mac?
Yes, you can access your WhatsApp account and messages on your PC or Mac using:
- WhatsApp Web – Use WhatsApp through the web browser by scanning your phone’s QR code.
- WhatsApp Desktop app – Download the desktop app to continue chats without browser.
Both WhatsApp Web and Desktop work by syncing your chats and data from your primary smartphone device. This allows you to seamlessly message and call WhatsApp contacts from your computer.
Here are the steps to use WhatsApp Web on your PC:
- Open web.whatsapp.com on your computer’s browser
- Open WhatsApp on your phone and tap Menu > WhatsApp Web
- Scan the QR code on the browser using your phone’s camera
- Your phone will sync all your chats to the computer
Can you recover deleted WhatsApp messages?
It is not possible to directly recover deleted WhatsApp messages through the app itself. Once a message is deleted by the sender or recipient, it is permanently erased from WhatsApp’s servers.
However, there are some indirect methods to restore deleted WhatsApp messages:
- Restore from a recent local backup – If the message was deleted recently, it may exist in your phone’s latest WhatsApp backup.
- Use third-party data recovery apps – Some advanced apps may be able to salvage deleted message data from your phone’s storage.
- Retrieve from the recipient’s phone – The message will still be available on the other person’s phone if not deleted.
But there is no native WhatsApp feature to recover permanently erased chat messages. The best approach is regularly backing up chats to ensure you have a way to restore lost data.
How does WhatsApp make money?
WhatsApp is owned by Facebook (now Meta), which acquired the platform for $19 billion in 2014. Despite being free for users, WhatsApp generates revenue in the following ways:
- WhatsApp Business – Companies pay to use advanced tools to engage customers.
- Paid business features – Business accounts are charged for certain extra capabilities.
- Customer service – Providing customer support and enterprise solutions for large businesses.
However, the vast majority of WhatsApp’s revenue comes from Facebook leveraging WhatsApp user data for targeted ads on Facebook and Instagram. WhatsApp’s huge user base is monetized through data-driven advertising across Meta’s family of products.
WhatsApp Business Revenue Statistics
| Year | Revenue |
| 2017 | $5 million |
| 2018 | $10 million |
| 2019 | $25 million |
WhatsApp Business tools give companies simple CRM features to engage customers for a set monthly fee per account. This provides another revenue stream on top of the user data-driven model.
Does WhatsApp sell your data?
WhatsApp states that it does not sell, share, or monetize your personal conversations and media. The content of your private chats remains encrypted and inaccessible to WhatsApp, Facebook, and third parties.
However, WhatsApp does collect metadata and usage data that is shared with its parent company Facebook. This non-content data can provide valuable insights about users and is leveraged by Facebook for advertising purposes.
Here is what WhatsApp user data may be collected and analyzed:
- Basic account info like your phone number
- Information about your device, OS, IP address
- Usage logs like group joins, call durations, online status
- Interactions with businesses
So in summary, WhatsApp does not sell your private chat content and media. But usage metadata not directly related to your conversations may be utilized by Facebook for ads and business intelligence.
Can WhatsApp be hacked?
While WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption for messages and calls, there are still methods hackers can use to compromise accounts and chats:
- Guessing weak passwords or cracking passwords using brute force
- Phishing attacks to trick users into giving login credentials
- Exploiting vulnerabilities in WhatsApp Web/Desktop versions
- Hacking the smartphone OS and installing spyware
- Physically accessing an unattended, unlocked phone
Here are some tips to enhance WhatsApp security and prevent hacking:
- Use a strong and unique password
- Enable two-factor authentication
- Be wary of suspicious login codes or links
- Update WhatsApp and your phone OS regularly
- Avoid using unauthorized WhatsApp mods
Can WhatsApp be used on multiple phones?
The same WhatsApp account cannot be actively logged into multiple phones simultaneously. Each account is tied to one phone number.
However, WhatsApp does allow linking up to 4 companion devices now to use your account on secondary devices like PC and tablets. You can access your chats and messages across multiple devices using:
- WhatsApp Web – Access WhatsApp through a web browser
- WhatsApp Desktop – Downloadable app for Mac/Windows
- WhatsApp tablets – Companion apps optimized for larger screens (in development)
But your primary WhatsApp login on your main smartphone has to remain active to use the service on linked devices. The mobile device is required for registration and receiving calls/messages.
Can you tell if someone is online on WhatsApp?
Earlier, WhatsApp used to show detailed online, offline, and last seen status for contacts. However, for enhanced privacy, WhatsApp has now made online presence completely optional.
You can choose to show your online status to:
- Everyone – Your online status is visible to all your contacts
- Same as Last Seen – Control who can see your status same as last seen settings
- Nobody – Hide your online status from all contacts
Similarly, you can also choose if you want to show your last seen timestamp to everyone, contacts only, or no one. Hiding your status ensures complete privacy when using WhatsApp.
How does WhatsApp encryption work?
WhatsApp uses the Signal protocol to implement end-to-end encryption for securing messages, media, and calls:
- Each chat has a unique encryption key only known to its participants.
- Messages are encrypted on the sender’s device before transmitting.
- Messages can only be decrypted by the recipient’s key on their own device.
- Encryption keys are regularly changed for enhanced security.
This system ensures WhatsApp itself has no visibility into the actual content being transmitted. The messages can only be accessed on the sender’s and recipient’s smartphones. WhatsApp encrypts the data but cannot decrypt it.
Can WhatsApp be used without a SIM card?
WhatsApp requires a phone number for registering your account. So without a SIM card, you cannot activate and use WhatsApp on your smartphone or tablet.
However, there are some ways to potentially use WhatsApp without inserting a SIM card directly into your device:
- Using a mobile hotspot or secondary phone’s mobile data
- Linking your number through WhatsApp Web by scanning QR code
- Using alternative internet-based calling and messaging apps
- Routing your SIM card calls and messages to another phone
But a SIM card with an active phone number is still required even when using WhatsApp remotely on another device. There is no way to bypass this requirement to directly use WhatsApp without a SIM card.
Conclusion
WhatsApp has become one of the world’s most popular messaging platforms by providing free, secure, real-time communication capabilities. While optional business tools exist, there are no hidden costs or fees required for ordinary users to access WhatsApp’s core features.
The service relies entirely on an internet connection and cannot function without one on any device. By linking devices, WhatsApp can be accessed across smartphones, computers, and tablets using the same account. And end-to-end encryption ensures private conversations stay private.
While public online statuses are optional, a phone number and SIM card are required for using WhatsApp. Overall, WhatsApp delivers an essential messaging and calling service totally free for individual use based on a secure and accessible platform.