Who Owns WhatsApp?
WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms Inc., an independent publicly traded American technology company. WhatsApp operates as a subsidiary within Meta's Family of Apps division, and Meta is publicly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under ticker META.
Parent Company
Meta Platforms Inc.
Acquired
2014
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Menlo Park, California, USA
Who Owns WhatsApp?
- Parent Company: Meta Platforms Inc.
- Ownership Type: Subsidiary
- Acquisition Year: 2014
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NASDAQ: META
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Meta Platforms Inc. | Subsidiary |
History of WhatsApp
- Founded: 2009
- Founders: Jan Koum, Brian Acton
- Acquired by Meta Platforms Inc.: 2014
WhatsApp was founded in January 2009 by Jan Koum and Brian Acton, both former Yahoo! employees who had been passed over for jobs at Facebook. Koum, who had immigrated to the United States from Ukraine as a teenager, was motivated by a desire to create a messaging app that would work reliably across different countries and mobile networks, enabling him to stay in touch with family and friends in Ukraine.
The name "WhatsApp" was a play on the phrase "What's up?" The app was initially conceived as a status update tool, showing what contacts were doing (at the gym, at work, available). However, when Apple launched push notifications in 2009, Koum and Acton realized the app could be used for messaging, and they pivoted to focus on instant messaging.
WhatsApp launched on the App Store in November 2009. The app charged a one-time download fee of $0.99 (later changed to a free download with an annual $0.99 subscription, and eventually made completely free). The business model was deliberately designed to avoid advertising, which Koum felt was intrusive and at odds with the privacy-focused experience he wanted to create.
WhatsApp grew explosively through the early 2010s, particularly in markets outside the United States where SMS messaging was expensive. In countries like India, Brazil, Germany, and across the Middle East, WhatsApp became the dominant messaging platform, replacing SMS for hundreds of millions of users. The app's cross-platform compatibility (working on iOS, Android, BlackBerry, and Nokia phones) was a key advantage.
In February 2014, Facebook (now Meta) announced the acquisition of WhatsApp for approximately $19 billion in cash and stock, one of the largest technology acquisitions in history at the time. The deal valued WhatsApp at approximately $42 per user. Koum and Acton both joined Facebook's board as part of the deal, though both eventually departed: Acton left in 2017 (and later donated $50 million to the Signal Foundation, a WhatsApp competitor), and Koum left in 2018.
Under Meta's ownership, WhatsApp has grown to over 2 billion monthly active users, making it one of the most widely used communication platforms in the world. The service has added voice and video calling, WhatsApp Business (for small businesses), WhatsApp Pay (payment services in select markets), and end-to-end encrypted backups. WhatsApp remains ad-free, with Meta monetizing the platform primarily through WhatsApp Business API fees charged to larger enterprises.
About Meta Platforms Inc.
Meta delivered exceptional Q4 2025 results with revenue of $59.89 billion, up 24% year-over-year, exceeding Wall Street expectations. The company's full-year 2025 revenue reached $200.97 billion, up 22% from the previous year. Net income for Q4 2025 was $22.77 billion, up 9% year-over-year, with diluted earnings per share of $8.88.
The company's advertising business continued strong growth, with ad revenue reaching $58.14 billion in Q4 2025, up 24% year-over-year. This growth came from both increased ad impressions (up 18%) and higher average price per ad (up 6%). Meta's Family of Apps reached 3.58 billion daily active people, up 7% year-over-year.
Meta announced massive AI infrastructure investments for 2026, with capital expenditures expected to range between $115-135 billion, nearly doubling the $72 billion spent in 2025. The company expects total 2026 expenses of $162-169 billion, with most increases coming from infrastructure costs and investments in technical talent, particularly in AI.
Reality Labs continued to be a significant investment area, losing $6.02 billion in Q4 2025 and $19.19 billion for the full year. However, Meta is repositioning Reality Labs from pure metaverse focus to AI-powered smart glasses and experiences that could integrate with existing apps.
- Founded: 2004
- Headquarters: Menlo Park, California, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NASDAQ: META
Where Is WhatsApp Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Menlo Park, California, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States, Ireland, Singapore, India
Brands Owned by Meta Platforms Inc.
WhatsApp Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Integration with Meta's massive user base and social media ecosystem
- +Strong commitment to privacy and end-to-end encryption
- +Free-to-use model without advertising
- +Continuous innovation in messaging and communication features
- +Global infrastructure and reliable service delivery
Considerations
- -Dependence on Meta's broader strategy and corporate decisions
- -Privacy concerns and data security considerations
- -Competition from other messaging apps and communication platforms
- -Regulatory scrutiny over Meta's market power
- -Need to balance growth with privacy commitments
Frequently Asked Questions About WhatsApp
Where to Buy
Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchases
WhatsApp on AmazonCompetitors to WhatsApp
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bytedance | China | 2016 | Mass Market | Asia Pacific | All Genders | |
| Snap Inc | USA | 2011 | Mass Market | North America | Male | |
| Bytedance | Singapore (international operations) | 2016 | Mass Market | Global | All Genders | |
| Bytedance | China | 2022 | Mass Market | Asia Pacific | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
Douyin
Owned by ByteDance Ltd.
Chinese short-form video platform and social media ecosystem combining video sharing, e-commerce, and content monetization features for the Chinese market.
Snapchat
Owned by Snap Inc.
Multimedia messaging app featuring ephemeral photos and videos, Stories, augmented reality lenses, and Discover content for visual communication.
TikTok
Owned by ByteDance Ltd.
Chinese short-form video hosting service owned by ByteDance, one of the world's most popular social media platforms.
TikTok Now
Owned by ByteDance Ltd.
ByteDance's short-form dual-camera video feature launched within TikTok in September 2022 as a BeReal competitor and discontinued in June 2023 after failing to gain traction.
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: WhatsApp competes with 4 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Meta Platforms Inc. Stock Information
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