In the US, it was advertised as $1/year, but I recall never having to pay it.

> Speaking at the DLD conference in Bavaria, Jan Koum confirmed that the $0.99 annual fee will be scrapped, effective immediately. Previously, WhatsApp had been free for the first year, with the fee charged for every subsequent year. Long-term users of the iOS version were given free use for life, as a thanks for paying a fee to download the app when it had a one-off charge.

* https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/18/whatsapp-...