[mcintyre1994]

Are you a user? If so, and you've been such for over a year - have you paid? I've never been charged, and to my knowledge nobody I know has either. I don't get if we should be getting charged but they just don't seem to bother. I get an annual notification saying I've been extended and no more information.

[lugg]

They do price testing, if they believe there is no better option for you, and you will pay, they will charge you.

They will not charge you if, for example, you're someone living in the USA. There is far too much free competition.

For their non smartphone market (don't have numbers but its large), there is very little if any at all competition, and people in places like india gladly pay the $1 fee for a years access on their dumbphone.

[catchmrbharath]

> people in places like india gladly pay the $1 fee for a years access on their dumbphone.

I am in India and I have never been charged for Whatsapp. Every year, whatsapp decides to add more free months.

Also, there is significant competition in the messaging space in India, and Indians are not comfortable paying for anything other than their phones.

[mkr-hn]

They might base it on who's likely to pay. It might be better, in their minds, to keep you as a user than to potentially send you away.