How to Sell Paid Subscriptions Through a WhatsApp Channel: The Official Feature and Practical Alternatives
WhatsApp channel subscriptions let you sell exclusive content monthly, but rollout is gradual. How they work, the fees, and alternatives you can use today.
In June 2025 WhatsApp announced channel subscriptions: the channel owner sets a monthly price and followers pay through the app store to unlock exclusive content. The rollout is gradual, and as of September 2026 Meta has not published a list of countries that includes Saudi Arabia or the Gulf, so the practical option today is a payment link followed by adding the subscriber to a private group or community, with renewal reminders sent through WhatsApp Business.
01How do official channel subscriptions work?
On 16 June 2025 WhatsApp announced channel subscriptions as part of its Updates tab features and published the terms on the same day. The idea: a regular WhatsApp channel with exclusive content that only subscribers can see.
- Price: set monthly by the channel owner.
- Payment: through the App Store or Google Play, which collect the money from the subscriber under WhatsApp's terms.
- Meta's commission: Meta said it plans to take 10% of subscriptions, with an exemption it announced until the end of 2025, according to press reports.
- Term: a monthly subscription that renews, and WhatsApp can suspend or restrict the feature under its terms.
Sources: WhatsApp Channel Subscriptions Terms (effective 16 June 2025), and CNBC and BusinessTech reports on Meta's announcement, June 2025.
02Is it available in your country?
The rollout is gradual. As of September 2026 Meta has not published an official list of supported countries, and we found no announcement confirming availability in Saudi Arabia, the Gulf or Egypt. The only sure way to check: open your channel from the admin account and look at the channel tools. If the subscription option appears, it is available to you.
Do not build a whole revenue plan on a feature that is not yet available in your country. Start with the practical alternative, and move your subscribers to the official feature later if it arrives and its fees suit you.
Even if the feature becomes available, the app store's commission and Meta's commission are deducted from the price. Compare them with your payment gateway's fees before you decide.
03The practical alternative today: subscriptions via a payment link
- Define the offer: exactly what the subscriber gets each month, such as 3 workout plans a week, a daily analysis or 20 recipes.
- Make the chat the entry point: a WhatsApp link in your bio and ads, with an AI agent that explains the subscription and answers questions.
- Send a payment link: from a payment gateway that accepts mada, Apple Pay and cards.
- After payment, send the join link for a private group or community for subscribers.
- Send a reminder three days before renewal with the new payment link.
- Review monthly: anyone who has not renewed is politely removed from the group and stays on the offers list if they agreed to.
| Option | Interaction | Subscriber number privacy | Payment collection | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official channel subscription | One-way, with reactions | Numbers hidden | Through the app store | News-style content and updates |
| Private group | Full discussion between members | Members may see each other's numbers | Your own payment link | A small community and group coaching |
| Community with several groups | Groups by level or city | Depends on group settings | Your own payment link | Programs with different levels |
| One-to-one messages via the API | A private chat with each subscriber | Fully private | Your own payment link | Personal follow-up and individual plans |
04Examples by business type
| Business | Paid content | Best format |
|---|---|---|
| Fitness or nutrition coach | A weekly plan, workout videos and check-ins | A small group or one-to-one messages |
| Gym | Online classes and between-visit programs for members | A community with one group per program |
| Market analyst | Daily market readings and educational content | A channel or a read-only group |
| Recipe creator | Exclusive recipes and weekly shopping lists | A channel or an announcements group |
| Language or skills teacher | A short daily lesson, exercises and corrections | Groups by level |
If your content includes investment or financial recommendations, check the licensing requirements in your country before selling it as a subscription.
05Ready-made templates for managing subscribers
Renewal reminders and activation confirmations are utility messages and are charged at the utility rate of the customer's country, inside and outside the conversation window. The upgrade offer is a marketing message and requires prior opt-in to marketing messages.
06How Modeer 360 helps
This is a sale that repeats every month, so what matters is not losing a subscriber to a late reply or a forgotten reminder. In Modeer 360 an AI agent answers interested followers in their dialect, sends the subscription details and hands special cases to you with a summary. The CRM tracks each subscriber's status with tags such as "Subscriber" and "Expires this week", and you send renewal reminders as a campaign with an approved template.
Ask the Modeer 360 team about connecting the payment gateway you use, or use a webhook from the gateway to update the subscriber's status automatically.
Key takeaways
- WhatsApp channel subscriptions were announced in June 2025, with payment through the app stores.
- As of September 2026, Meta has not published a country list confirming availability in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf.
- The practical alternative: a payment link, then a private group or community for subscribers.
- Monthly renewals need organized reminders and a status tag for every subscriber.
Frequently asked questions
Are WhatsApp channel subscriptions available in Saudi Arabia?
As of September 2026, Meta has not published an official country list, and we found no announcement confirming availability in Saudi Arabia. Check the channel tools in your admin account.
How much does WhatsApp take from a subscription?
Meta said it plans to take 10%, and the app store's cut is deducted as well. Check the terms in your country once the feature is available.
Can I sell a subscription to a WhatsApp group?
Yes, as your own arrangement: collect payment with a link from a payment gateway and send the join link after payment. This is not a WhatsApp payment feature.
How many members can a WhatsApp group hold?
Up to 1,024 members per group. For larger numbers, use Communities or a channel.
- #Paid WhatsApp channel
- #Make money from a WhatsApp channel
- #Paid WhatsApp group
- #Sell content on WhatsApp