New WhatsApp backup service offers iCloud storage alternative

WhatsApp developed a first-party WhatsApp backup service for iOS devices to let iPhone users save their chat histories directly on the company's own servers instead of Apple's iCloud platform. The upcoming feature aims to provide a direct alternative for users whose limited iCloud storage is frequently overwhelmed by large chat media and message histories.

WABetaInfo first reported the unreleased feature after discovering code hidden within a recent WhatsApp beta build for iOS. The publication noted that once the update launches officially, users will be able to select their preferred storage provider directly from the chat settings, although iCloud will remain configured as the default option.

The initiative mirrors a similar project developed for Android devices in April, which sought to offer an alternative to Google Drive storage. Together, the two platforms represent the first time the messaging service has actively worked to provide data backups completely independent of the Apple and Google cloud ecosystems. Under the proposed system, the company will offer 2GB of server storage entirely free of charge, with a 50GB plan priced at approximately $0.99 per month and a larger 1TB option also under development.

Security will also be a major focus of the new WhatsApp backup service, with all files saved to the company's servers being protected by end-to-end encryption by default. Unlike standard iCloud backup services, which do not offer automatic encryption and require users to manually opt into secure backups, the in-house system will activate this protection automatically.

To access their stored data, users must authenticate using a personal passcode, a password, or a private 64-digit number. Since the feature is still under development, it is currently unavailable to beta testers and does not yet have a confirmed release date.