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

Figures

The numbers on the public map, each with its period, how sure it is and the page it came from.

Meta headcount 2026 09 30: 66,775; Inferred · high confidence
investor.atmeta.com: show sources
Meta Reports Third Quarter 2026 Resultsinvestor.atmeta.com
A record page; no quote was needed.
Linked sourcefilingRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page

Year

2,021

Inferred · high confidence

dataprotection.ie

DPC announces decision in WhatsApp inquirydataprotection.ie
A record page; no quote was needed.
Linked sourcepressRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
https://www.dataprotection.ie/en/news-media/press-releases/data-protection-commission-announces-decision-whatsapp-inquiry

as of 3 Nov 2026

Every public fact (26)

Its identity facts and headline figures, each with how sure it is, where it comes from and when it was stated. A free account opens every figure.

Monthly active users3 billion (May 2025)
Inferred · high confidence
en.wikipedia.org: show sources
- WhatsApp - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcewebsiteRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WhatsApp
as of 3 Nov 2026
FineEUR 225 million
Inferred · high confidence
dataprotection.ie: show sources
- DPC announces decision in WhatsApp inquirydataprotection.ie
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcepressRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://www.dataprotection.ie/en/news-media/press-releases/data-protection-commission-announces-decision-whatsapp-inquiry
as of 3 Nov 2026
Year2,021
Inferred · high confidence
dataprotection.ie: show sources
- DPC announces decision in WhatsApp inquirydataprotection.ie
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcepressRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://www.dataprotection.ie/en/news-media/press-releases/data-protection-commission-announces-decision-whatsapp-inquiry
as of 3 Nov 2026
FineEUR 110 million (May 2017)
Inferred · high confidence
en.wikipedia.org: show sources
- WhatsApp - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcewebsiteRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WhatsApp
as of 3 Nov 2026
Meta headcount 2026 09 3066,775
Inferred · high confidence
investor.atmeta.com: show sources
- Meta Reports Third Quarter 2026 Resultsinvestor.atmeta.com
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcefilingRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://investor.atmeta.com/investor-news/press-release-details/2026/Meta-Reports-Third-Quarter-2026-Results/default.aspx
as of 3 Nov 2026
Foa revenue q3 2026$64,158 million
Inferred · high confidence
investor.atmeta.com: show sources
- Meta Reports Third Quarter 2026 Resultsinvestor.atmeta.com
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcefilingRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://investor.atmeta.com/investor-news/press-release-details/2026/Meta-Reports-Third-Quarter-2026-Results/default.aspx
as of 3 Nov 2026
Family dap sep 20263.64 billion
Inferred · high confidence
investor.atmeta.com: show sources
- Meta Reports Third Quarter 2026 Resultsinvestor.atmeta.com
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcefilingRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://investor.atmeta.com/investor-news/press-release-details/2026/Meta-Reports-Third-Quarter-2026-Results/default.aspx
as of 3 Nov 2026
Founded2009-02-24 (incorporated); app launched May 2009
Inferred · high confidence
en.wikipedia.org: show sources
- WhatsApp - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcewebsiteRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WhatsApp
as of 3 Nov 2026
Original headquartersMountain View, California
Inferred · high confidence
en.wikipedia.org: show sources
- WhatsApp - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcewebsiteRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WhatsApp
as of 3 Nov 2026
Monthly active users3 billion (May 2025)
Inferred · high confidence
en.wikipedia.org: show sources
- WhatsApp - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcewebsiteRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WhatsApp
as of 3 Nov 2026
Parent organizationMeta Platforms
Inferred · high confidence
en.wikipedia.org: show sources
- WhatsApp - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcewebsiteRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WhatsApp
as of 3 Nov 2026
Acquisition announced2014-02-19
Inferred · high confidence
en.wikipedia.org: show sources
- WhatsApp - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcewebsiteRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WhatsApp
as of 3 Nov 2026
Acquisition priceUS$19 billion (cash $4B, shares $12B, RSUs $3B)
Inferred · high confidence
en.wikipedia.org: show sources
- WhatsApp - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcewebsiteRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WhatsApp
as of 3 Nov 2026
Parent organizationMeta Platforms, Inc.
Inferred · high confidence
en.wikipedia.org: show sources
- WhatsApp - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcewebsiteRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WhatsApp
as of 3 Nov 2026
Appointed2026-06-22
Inferred · high confidence
exchange4media.com: show sources
- Meta names Kunal Shah as WhatsApp head (exchange4media)exchange4media.com
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcepressRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://www.exchange4media.com/people-movement-news/meta-names-kunal-shah-as-whatsapp-head-155649.html
as of 3 Nov 2026
PredecessorWill Cathcart
Inferred · high confidence
exchange4media.com: show sources
- Meta names Kunal Shah as WhatsApp head (exchange4media)exchange4media.com
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcepressRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://www.exchange4media.com/people-movement-news/meta-names-kunal-shah-as-whatsapp-head-155649.html
as of 3 Nov 2026
Investment$900 million (2026, reported)
Inferred · low confidence
gizmodo.com: show sources
- WhatsApp is getting a new CEO from the fintech world (Gizmodo)gizmodo.com
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcepressRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://gizmodo.com/whatsapp-is-getting-a-new-ceo-from-the-fintech-world-2000775591
as of 3 Nov 2026
Completed2016-04-05
Inferred · high confidence
en.wikipedia.org: show sources
- WhatsApp - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcewebsiteRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WhatsApp
as of 3 Nov 2026
ProtocolSignal Protocol
Inferred · high confidence
en.wikipedia.org: show sources
- WhatsApp - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcewebsiteRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WhatsApp
as of 3 Nov 2026
Fee dropped2016-01-18
Inferred · high confidence
en.wikipedia.org: show sources
- WhatsApp - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcewebsiteRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WhatsApp
as of 3 Nov 2026
Launched2018-01
Inferred · high confidence
business.whatsapp.com: show sources
- WhatsApp Businessbusiness.whatsapp.com
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcewebsiteRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://business.whatsapp.com/
as of 3 Nov 2026
Cloud api launched2022-05
Inferred · high confidence
en.wikipedia.org: show sources
- WhatsApp - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcewebsiteRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WhatsApp
as of 3 Nov 2026
Foa other revenue q3 2026$1,097 million
Inferred · low confidence
investor.atmeta.com: show sources
- Meta Reports Third Quarter 2026 Resultsinvestor.atmeta.com
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcefilingRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://investor.atmeta.com/investor-news/press-release-details/2026/Meta-Reports-Third-Quarter-2026-Results/default.aspx
as of 3 Nov 2026
Foa other revenue 9m 2026$2,987 million
Inferred · low confidence
investor.atmeta.com: show sources
- Meta Reports Third Quarter 2026 Resultsinvestor.atmeta.com
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcefilingRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://investor.atmeta.com/investor-news/press-release-details/2026/Meta-Reports-Third-Quarter-2026-Results/default.aspx
as of 3 Nov 2026
Launched2023-06
Inferred · high confidence
en.wikipedia.org: show sources
- WhatsApp - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcewebsiteRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WhatsApp
as of 3 Nov 2026
Announced2025-06-16
Inferred · high confidence
businesstoday.in: show sources
- WhatsApp rolls out ads and paid subscriptions in Status and Channels (Business Today)businesstoday.in
  A record page; no quote was needed.
  Linked sourcepressRead 3 Nov 2026Open the page
  https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/whatsapp-rolls-out-ads-and-paid-subscriptions-in-status-and-channels-to-boost-discovery-and-monetisation-480627-2025-06-16
as of 3 Nov 2026

Figures

Every public fact (26)

Timeline1