WhatsApp to Support Third-Party Messaging Apps in Europe: A Major Interoperability Shift

Meta is rolling out a major change to WhatsApp’s functionality in Europe: soon, WhatsApp users will be able to message people on selected third-party apps without leaving WhatsApp. This is a significant step toward interoperability, driven by European regulatory requirements, and it will reshape how messaging works across the continent.

Here’s everything you need to know — what’s coming, how it works, what the trade-offs are, and why it matters for users and Meta alike.

Why This Is Happening: The Role of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA)

The push for this feature comes largely from the Digital Markets Act (DMA) — a regulatory framework in the European Union that forces “gatekeeper” platforms to open up certain services for wider competition. Meta, which owns WhatsApp, is now required to make WhatsApp interoperable with other messaging services under certain conditions.

In response, WhatsApp has partnered with a couple of messaging apps — BirdyChat and Haiket — to begin this third-party chat support. Meta says this was not a quick pivot: the company spent more than three years working with European messaging providers and regulators to build a solution that preserves privacy while meeting regulatory demands.

What the New Feature Actually Does

Here’s how the third-party chat integration will work, based on Meta’s and WhatsApp’s public statements:

1. Opt-In Model: European users will receive an in-app notification in WhatsApp’s Settings to opt in to third-party chats.

2. Supported Platforms: Initially, only iOS and Android versions of WhatsApp will support the third-party chat feature. Desktop, web or tablet versions are left out for now.

3. Messaging Capabilities: Users who opt in will be able to send and receive texts, images, voice messages, videos, and files from BirdyChat and Haiket users directly inside WhatsApp.

4. Group Chat (Coming Later): The ability to form group chats that include third-party app users will arrive later, once the partner apps are fully ready to support it.

5. Encryption & Privacy: Crucially, Meta says that only third-party apps that support the same level of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) as WhatsApp will be allowed to interoperate.

6. Inbox Management Options: Users can choose whether to have third-party chats appear in a separate folder (“Third-party chats”) or merged into their main WhatsApp inbox.

7. Onboarding & Transparency: The onboarding flow will clearly explain the differences between regular WhatsApp conversations and third-party chats. Meta emphasizes simplicity and clarity in its user experience.

Why It Matters: Implications for Users & Meta

For WhatsApp Users

• More flexibility: Users in Europe will no longer be limited to chatting only with other WhatsApp users. With interoperable apps, they can communicate across platforms.

• Choice & control: Because the feature is opt-in, people maintain control over whether or not they want to enable cross-app messaging.

• Privacy assurances: By requiring third-party apps to support WhatsApp-grade encryption, Meta aims to uphold its strong privacy promises.

• User education: The separate folder option helps people manage chat flow and separate third-party messages from their core WhatsApp conversations.

For Third-Party Messaging Apps

• Access to a huge user base: Apps like BirdyChat and Haiket suddenly gain access to billions of potential WhatsApp users.

• Competitive edge: Being interoperable with WhatsApp could significantly boost their relevance and adoption.

• Technical burdens: These apps must match WhatsApp’s encryption standard, which could raise development complexity and cost.

• Privacy partnership: Working with Meta means adhering to strict privacy rules and user-data practices.

For Meta / WhatsApp

• Regulatory compliance: This move helps Meta fulfill DMA obligations, avoiding potential sanctions and reinforcing cooperation with EU regulators.

• Messaging as platform: By letting in third parties, WhatsApp goes from being a closed “walled garden” to a more open platform, potentially increasing messaging volume and stickiness.

• Security risk: While encryption is mandated, interoperability could still introduce new security complexities — Meta must carefully vet partners and monitor data practices.

• Growth potential: More usage and higher message traffic might boost engagement metrics, which could further strengthen WhatsApp’s position as a central communication hub.

Potential Challenges & Risks

While the interoperability rollout is promising, there are several challenges and risks to watch:

• Limited Partner Pool: For now, only BirdyChat and Haiket are officially part of the integration — it’s unclear how fast more apps will join.

• User Adoption: Because it’s opt-in, many users may choose not to turn on third-party chats, limiting its immediate impact.

• Data Handling Concerns: Meta warns that third-party apps “might handle your data differently” than WhatsApp, which could raise privacy worries.

• Security Oversight: Ensuring the same level of encryption is one thing, but third-party apps might not have exactly the same security architecture or data retention policies.

• User Experience Complexity: New users may be confused by “folder vs combined inbox” options, leading to accidental misuse or privacy mistakes.

• Scalability: As more apps join, managing the interoperability ecosystem could become a technical and administrative burden for Meta.

The Bigger Picture: Messaging Future in Europe

Meta’s decision is part of a broader shift prompted by digital regulation in Europe. The DMA aims to break down silos between dominant platforms and empower smaller messaging apps, which could lead to a more open, competitive messaging ecosystem.

By offering interoperability, WhatsApp is evolving: no longer just a closed communications system, but potentially a unified portal to multiple compatible messaging services. This could reshape how people think about messaging — not as “which app should I use?” but “which app should I talk from?”

Meta’s announcement signals that the future of messaging might look very different in Europe. As more apps join, users could enjoy richer, more flexible conversations across platforms — all while preserving encryption and privacy.

What to Expect Next

If you’re a WhatsApp user in Europe (or soon to be), here’s what to watch in the coming months:

1. Opt-in Prompt: Look for a notification in the Settings tab of your WhatsApp app explaining how to enable third-party messaging.

2. First Supported Apps: Initially, the supported apps will be BirdyChat and Haiket. More partners may join as Meta expands.

3. Feature Availability: Expect it first on iOS and Android; desktop, web, and tablet versions are currently not supported.

4. Group Chat Option: Group messages with third-party users will come later, once partners are ready.

5. Privacy Notice: Pay attention to Meta’s privacy messages — they will highlight how third-party apps might differ in how they treat your data.

6. More Interoperability: Meta plans to continue expanding its interoperability offering to more apps, as required by the DMA and other regulatory obligations.

WhatsApp’s upcoming launch of third-party chat integration in Europe is a landmark shift — not just a product feature, but a regulatory-driven transformation in how we message. For European users, it means more freedom to communicate across apps. For third-party services, it opens the door to a massive user base. And for Meta, it’s both compliance and strategic adaptation to a new messaging landscape.

This doesn’t mean WhatsApp is going away or becoming less secure. On the contrary: by demanding strong encryption from its partners and giving users control over whether to enable interoperability, Meta is trying to strike a balance between openness and privacy.

Over time, if more messaging apps join, we may see a more interconnected ecosystem where your WhatsApp, BirdyChat, Haiket, and other trusted messaging apps coexist — and you choose where to chat without fragmentation.

For now, the rollout begins with a few partners and mobile devices, but the vision is clear: WhatsApp is becoming a bridge, not a wall, in European messaging.