Android owners have historically relied on Google Drive to safeguard their message history, whilst those on iOS have turned to iCloud.
However, WhatsApp is reportedly developing the capability to host these backups on its own dedicated cloud storage infrastructure.
According to findings uncovered by WABetaInfo, this upcoming feature will provide both Android and iOS users with the flexibility to choose their preferred backup destination. Instead of being locked into the default operating system storage, users can opt for WhatsApp’s proprietary cloud solution.
To get people started, the platform intends to offer a free tier consisting of 2GB of free storage space. For users with larger media libraries and extensive chat histories, the company is also planning to introduce premium storage tiers. Reports indicate that a 50GB cloud storage plan is currently under consideration, which is expected to carry a subscription fee of USD0.99 (~RM4) per month.
At present, this encrypted cloud storage feature remains in the active development phase for both mobile platforms, and an official public release date has not yet been confirmed.