WhatsApp is preparing to open its doors to other messaging platforms as Meta works to meet Europe’s Digital Markets Act requirements for interoperability. The move marks a shift away from the closed messaging model that has defined many major communication apps for more than a decade. Instead of requiring everyone to use the same platform, WhatsApp will soon allow users to exchange messages with people on select third-party services.
Meta’s initial rollout will involve two partner apps, BirdyChat and Haiket, which will support a core set of features familiar to WhatsApp users, including text messages, images, voice clips, videos, and file sharing. Access to these cross-app conversations won’t be automatic; users will need to activate a new toggle in WhatsApp’s settings. Once enabled, conversations from other platforms can either appear in a separate third-party chats folder or blend into the main inbox, depending on personal preference.
Meta says that end-to-end encryption will remain a requirement, and partner apps must meet security standards comparable to WhatsApp’s. How smoothly this works in practice is still an open question, but the company’s public commitment puts some structure around concerns that interoperability might weaken privacy or create inconsistencies in how messages are protected. The feature is expected to begin rolling out in Europe over the next few months on both Android and iOS.
For users, the practical impact could be significant. Messaging today often involves juggling multiple apps simply because friends, family, or colleagues are spread across different services. Interoperability reduces that friction. Someone using a niche app will be able to contact a WhatsApp user without asking them to install yet another platform. This shift could also give smaller messaging services a more realistic chance to compete, since their communities can interact with WhatsApp’s large user base without extra steps.
The update reflects broader changes in European tech regulation, where policymakers are pushing dominant platforms toward greater openness and user choice. While the change is limited to Europe for now, what happens there often influences global product strategy. If this rollout proves stable and useful, Meta may face pressure—regulatory or otherwise—to expand cross-app messaging to more regions and more partners.
WhatsApp is also preparing additional updates focused on safety and usability, including stronger scam protections, a unified view of recently shared media, and the ability to use the same username associated with Instagram. Users who want to take advantage of cross-app messaging will need to watch for the new settings toggle, along with any variations in privacy rules that may accompany conversations originating outside WhatsApp.
If Meta continues expanding its interoperability roadmap, the messaging landscape could shift from isolated platforms toward something closer to email: a system where the app you choose matters less than the people you want to reach.
