WhatsApp is rolling out a feature enabling users in India to pay their bills directly through the app. This move is part of the messaging giant’s ongoing expansion into financial services, which began in November 2020 with the integration of the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) for money transfers.
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) recently lifted a cap on UPI onboarding for WhatsApp, allowing it to offer payment services to all its users in India.
Android Authority revealed this upcoming bill payment functionality in an APK teardown, specifically in the WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.25.3.15. The feature will support various payment categories, including electricity, mobile prepaid recharges, LPG gas, water, landline postpaid bills, and rent payments.
Although the bill payment option is still under development, an ’empty activity’ for this service has already been included in the app’s beta version, indicating progress towards its completion. While there is no confirmed release date, the feature will likely be made available to beta testers in India first before being rolled out more broadly in a stable update.
While WhatsApp currently permits UPI-based transactions to contacts and businesses within India, the expansion into bill payments positions it to compete more directly with established payment platforms like PhonePe and Google Pay. The service’s rollout, however, might face some regulatory and logistical hurdles before it becomes available.
WhatsApp set to introduce bill payments for users in its largest market (APK Teardown) https://t.co/KFVL1hGEV7
— Android Authority (@AndroidAuth) February 6, 2025The introduction of this feature follows a significant regulatory development: The NPCI removed the user onboarding limit for WhatsApp Pay. This change allows WhatsApp to enhance its financial offerings and possibly include features for making international payments, which were also spotted in testing last year.
