WhatsApp is developing a first-party cloud storage option for chat backups on iPhone, providing users with an alternative to iCloud for the first time, according to app tinkerer WABetaInfo. Code found in the WhatsApp beta for iOS (version 26.28.10.16), available through TestFlight, suggests users will eventually be able to pick their preferred backup destination directly from the app's chat backup settings, though iCloud will remain the default.

The feature mirrors one spotted in development for Android back in April, which would let users store backups off Google Drive. Under the plan, WhatsApp will reportedly include 2GB of free storage on its own servers, with a 50GB tier priced at around $0.99 per month—similar to Apple's entry-level iCloud+ plan—and a 1TB option also in the works, though tiers and pricing could change before launch.

Notably, backups kept on WhatsApp's servers will be protected by end-to-end encryption (E2EE) by default, with no way to switch encryption off. That's firmer protection than iCloud backups, whose users must manually enable Advanced Data Protection (ADP). WhatsApp will reportedly recommend securing backups with a passkey, though a password or 64-digit key will also work. WABetaInfo says the feature is still in development and not yet functional for beta testers, with no official launch timeline announced.