Imagine a world where sending a simple text message costs money.
That was the reality before WhatsApp changed everything.
Why did two former Yahoo employees build it?
How did Facebook buy it for $19 billion?
And how does WhatsApp make money today?
Letās uncover the journey of one of the worldās most influential apps.
The Birth of WhatsApp: Solving a Global Problem
In 2009, Brian Acton and Jan Koum were frustrated with expensive SMS fees.
Their idea?
A simple app where people could send unlimited messages for freeāno matter where they were in the world.
They built WhatsApp, and it took off like wildfire.
By 2014, it had:
600 million active users
Zero ads (they hated ads!)
A promise of complete privacy
Thatās when Facebook stepped in and acquired it for $19 billionāone of the biggest tech deals ever.
How Does WhatsApp Make Money?
Initially, WhatsApp charged $1 per download in some countries. But in 2016, it became 100% free.
So, how does it make money now?
WhatsApp Business ā Companies pay to use WhatsApp for customer service.
WhatsApp Pay ā A feature that lets users send and receive money (like PayPal).
Upcoming Ads ā While WhatsApp itself remains ad-free, businesses can send promotional messages.
Today, WhatsApp has 2.5 billion+ users and continues to grow.
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Do you think WhatsApp should have stayed independent, or was selling to Facebook the right move? Letās debate!
Do you think WhatsApp should have stayed independent, or was selling to Facebook the right move? Letās debate!
