WhatsApp: how it is built

Company United States

WhatsApp is a company in social networks and media platforms founded in 2009-02-24 (incorporated); app launched May 2009^[1] and based in the United States. Its parent organization is Meta Platforms^[1].

“Use WhatsApp Messenger to stay in touch with friends and family. WhatsApp is free and offers simple, secure, reliable messaging and calling, available on phones all over the world.”^[2]

Founded: 2009-02-24 (incorporated); app launched May 2009
Employees: 1000+
Sources: 1210 sites

How it is built30 components · 8 parts · 12 flows

26 recorded numbers and 12 open-web sources. Who stands behind each item: 68 from the system atlas registry.

Supply: making or delivering the offer7
Demand: winning customers6
Control: rules the company runs under4

12 sourcesUpdated 2 hours agoAbout this record

Basis: Mapped from public sources
First mapped: 3 Nov 2026
Updated: 2 hours ago
Sources: 12 sources
Changes: Atom feed

Mapped from public sourcesFirst mapped 3 Nov 2026Updated 2 hours ago12 sourcesAtom feed

People: who does the work4

Systems: tools and data4

Customers: keeping them2

Direction: deciding where it goes2

Money: getting paid and paying1

By layer: People 4 · Process 5 · Software 6 · Data 4 · Decisions 11

Figures

Year2,021 · as of 3 Nov 2026
Meta headcount 2026 09 3066,775 · as of 3 Nov 2026

Figures and history →

Recent history1

2009Founded

Full timeline →

Where the facts come from12 pages · 10 sites

en.wikipedia.orgEncyclopedia · 1 page · 30 findings
investor.atmeta.comFiling · 1 page · 10 findings
businesstoday.inPress · 1 page · 8 findings
exchange4media.comPress · 1 page · 4 findings
developers.facebook.comOther web page · 1 page · 4 findings

All sources →

Similar organizations4

Telegram91% · Very close in what it does
Discord75% · United States · Close in what it does
Kuaishou70% · China · Close in what it does
Signal68% · United States · Same industry

Compare all →

On the market

Data points: 56 · 0 verified · +56 in 30 days
Full map: 56 points
Figures: 26 points
Decisions: 25 points
Process: 9 points
Listings: None open

Market →

Verification

Not claimed by the company. 68 public findings, none confirmed yet.

Claim with an @whatsapp.com email →How it stands →

Company · Social networks and media platforms

Founded: 2009-02-24 (incorporated); app launched May 2009^[1]
Employees: 1000+Registry record
Region: United StatesRegistry record
Model: ProductRegistry record
Type: CompanyBroadcasting and Content ProvidersSocial networks and media platformsRegistry record
Website: whatsapp.com
Monthly active users: 3 billion (May 2025)^[1]
Fine: EUR 225 million^[3]
Foa revenue q3 2026: $64,158 million^[4]
Family dap sep 2026: 3.64 billion^[4]
Original headquarters: Mountain View, California^[1]
Parent: Meta Platforms^[1]
Acquisition announced: 2014-02-19^[1]
Acquisition price: US$19 billion (cash $4B, shares $12B, RSUs $3B)^[1]
Appointed: 2026-06-22^[5]
Predecessor: Will Cathcart^[5]
Investment: $900 million (2026, reported)^[6]
Completed: 2016-04-05^[1]
Protocol: Signal Protocol^[1]
Fee dropped: 2016-01-18^[1]
Launched: 2018-01^[7]
Cloud api launched: 2022-05^[1]
Foa other revenue q3 2026: $1,097 million^[4]
Foa other revenue 9m 2026: $2,987 million^[4]
Announced: 2025-06-16^[8]

Private by default: only what a company publishes, or public sources, reach the registry
Every value carries its source and a confidence label
Unknown is never shown as missing