WhatsApp has introduced prepaid mobile recharge services for users in India, allowing people to recharge their mobile numbers directly within the messaging app. The new feature, powered by PayU, is being
rolled out in phases on Android and iOS and will be available to all users over the coming weeks, according to a statement.
“The feature allows people to seamlessly recharge their own number or that of friends and family members in just a few simple steps. 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 and PayU said in the statement.
The company has also introduced a rupee (₹) icon on the app’s home screen, giving users quicker access to payments and recharge services. The icon will also help users access UPI payments on WhatsApp and metro ticketing services available through the platform.
Ravi Garg, Director, Business Messaging, Meta India, 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.”
He added that the move is part of WhatsApp’s strategy to create a more unified experience where users can complete multiple daily tasks in one place.
Hemang Dattani, chief business officer at PayU, said the partnership aims to make routine digital payments more seamless. “WhatsApp is part of daily life for people across the country, and mobile recharges are a routine digital transaction. Bringing recharges to WhatsApp allows users to complete a task they perform regularly within an app they already have open,” he said.
To use the feature, users need to tap the ₹ icon, choose mobile prepaid recharge, select the number, confirm the telecom operator, pick a plan and complete payment through UPI, debit card or credit card.
The latest rollout adds to WhatsApp’s growing utility-focused services in India. The platform is already being used for metro ticket bookings, bill payments and access to citizen services through official chatbots. With prepaid recharges now integrated, WhatsApp is further expanding beyond messaging into everyday digital services.
