Observed Signal · Apr 28, 2026 · Technical Release · Source: t3n · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
WhatsApp Plans First‑Party Cloud Backup Service
WhatsApp is reportedly developing a first‑party cloud backup service to reduce reliance on Google Drive and iCloud and to ease cross‑platform data restores between Android and iPhone. Evidence for the feature was found by WABetaInfo in the Android app; WhatsApp plans a default 2 GB option plus paid tiers up to 50 GB (reports cite about $1/month for the larger tier). Backups would be stored end‑to‑end encrypted and users can secure them with a passkey, a password, or a 64‑character recovery key. It is unclear whether the 2 GB tier will be free or part of a paid WhatsApp Plus subscription. No launch date has been announced; WhatsApp typically rolls out new features via beta testing before stable release.
A large platform (WhatsApp/Meta) planning a first‑party cloud backup affects data portability, storage monetization and privacy models; it's a product/technical change from a major platform likely to impact many users and related ecosystem controls.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- WhatsApp is developing a first‑party cloud backup solution to reduce dependence on Google Drive and iCloud.
- WABetaInfo discovered references to the backup feature in the Android app.
- A default 2 GB backup option is planned, with additional tiers up to 50 GB reportedly available.
- Reports cite a price of about $1/month for the larger (50 GB) tier; whether 2 GB is free is unclear.
- Backups will be end‑to‑end encrypted; users can secure backups with a passkey, a password, or a 64‑character key.
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Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
WhatsApp launches Plus paid tier at €2.49/month
WhatsApp (owned by Meta) has begun testing a paid "Plus" subscription for a small group of Android users in Europe. Priced at €2.49 per month in the current test, the Plus tier adds personalization and convenience features — 18 UI accent colors applied app-wide, 14 alternate app icons, up to 20 pinned chats, ten exclusive ringtones for Android, and exclusive sticker packs including animated full‑screen stickers visible even to non-subscribers. The subscription auto-renews via Google Play and may gain more features or a trial before wider rollout. Core WhatsApp functionality remains free for all users; an iOS version is planned for a later date. The rollout was reported by WABetainfo and summarized by publisher t3n.
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