WhatsApp adds prepaid phone recharges in India as its payments usage still lags

WhatsApp is expanding its payments ecosystem in India by adding prepaid phone recharges through a partnership with fintech firm PayU, aiming to increase transaction adoption despite significant market share disadvantage against PhonePe and Google Pay. Despite 500+ million Indian users and lifting onboarding restrictions in late 2024, WhatsApp processes only 130 million monthly UPI transactions compared to competitors' 10+ billion, though transaction volume has doubled since early 2025. This strategic move reflects Meta's broader investment in transforming WhatsApp into a super-app that integrates payments, bills, ticketing, and government services to drive user engagement and monetization beyond messaging.