How does WhatsApp make money? It's free - with some tricks

WhatsApp, owned by Meta, offers free personal accounts but generates business revenue.

Companies pay to interact with users through WhatsApp for conversational and transactional services. For example, businesses can sell products, book tickets, and offer customer support via chat.

Meta also earns by linking WhatsApp chats to ads on Facebook or Instagram. Other messaging platforms like Signal rely on donations, Discord uses a freemium model, and Snapchat combines ads with paid features.

Element, a UK-based secure messaging firm, charges large organizations for private server use. Many apps still rely on advertising by analyzing user behavior.