WhatsApp announced that people in India can now complete prepaid mobile recharges directly within the app. Powered by PayU, the feature is rolling out in phases across Android and iOS and will be available to all users over the coming weeks.
Seamless recharge experience
The feature allows people to seamlessly recharge their own number or that of friends and family members in just a few simple steps.
Support for major telecom operators
People across India with prepaid connections on Jio, Airtel, and Vi can choose from a range of available plans and complete their mobile recharges directly within WhatsApp, making the process easy and convenient.
Meta on expanding everyday utility
Meta India Director, Business Messaging, Ravi Garg, said, “In India, WhatsApp is where people connect with friends and family, and increasingly, where they complete everyday essential tasks. By bringing recharges directly into WhatsApp, we are making it easier for people to stay connected without having to juggle between multiple apps.”
Introduction of rupee icon for payments
WhatsApp has also introduced a rupee (₹) icon on the home screen to make it simpler for people to discover and access the payments section within WhatsApp.
Access to UPI and metro services
Apart from giving easy access to recharges, the ₹ icon provides a clear and familiar entry point for people to use UPI on WhatsApp and offers access to metro services providing WhatsApp-based ticketing through the feature.
Payments within chat threads
People can also click the rupee icon within 1:1 chat threads while messaging friends, family, and others to easily send payments using UPI.
PayU on embedded payments
“Bringing recharges to WhatsApp allows users to complete a task they perform regularly within an app they already have open — that’s what embedded payments should feel like. Our partnership with Meta reflects our commitment to making high-frequency transactions simpler, more accessible, and effortless,” said PayU Payments Chief Business Officer Hemang Dattani.
Steps to use the recharge feature
Steps to access and use the recharge feature: Tap on the ₹ icon, select mobile prepaid recharge, select the number (self/family or friends), confirm the operator, choose your plan based on your mobile operator, select your payment mode (UPI, debit card, credit card), and confirm payment.
Expanding WhatsApp’s role in daily life
This launch builds on how WhatsApp is already playing a role in people’s everyday lives in India, from conversations and business interactions to payments and essential services. Today, people are using WhatsApp to book metro tickets across cities, pay bills, and access a range of citizen services through government chatbots, all within a familiar chat interface.
Towards a seamless digital ecosystem
With mobile recharges now integrated into the app, WhatsApp is extending this utility further, bringing another essential, high-frequency task into a single, seamless experience.