One of the perks to owning iOS is that WhatsApp for iOS is a onetime payment of $0.99. Other platforms like Blackberry, Windows Phone and Android get to download the app for free, but after a year they are expected to pay $0.99 in subscription fees every year. It’s not a very huge fee but ultimately it could cost more than its iOS counterpart. However it looks like iOS users should brace themselves for a subscription model because according to WhatsApp’s CEO, Jan Koum, it seems that the company is looking to shift its iOS app away from the onetime payment method into a subscription model like its other versions.
The subscription model will be the same as Blackberry, Windows Phone and Android, in the sense that it will be free to download but users will have to pay $0.99 a year after the first year. As to when exactly this new subscription model will kick in, it remains unknown. Koum was quoted as saying that they were “relaxed” on dates, but the change will definitely be taking place this year. Personally speaking as someone who relies on WhatsApp heavily to remain in contact with friends and family, the very, very small price to pay for a $0.99/year subscription fee is not much to ask for, although we are pretty sure that there will be some who will not be happy about this.