Which company operates the WhatsApp messaging service?

Meta Platforms operates the WhatsApp messaging service.

Meta Platforms acquired WhatsApp in 2014 for approximately $19.3 billion in cash and stock. WhatsApp had been founded in 2009 by Jan Koum and Brian Acton as a mobile messaging application.

The service supports text messaging, voice and video calls, group conversations, media sharing, and end-to-end encrypted communication. It remains a separate consumer brand within Meta's family of applications, alongside Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger.

WhatsApp is sometimes incorrectly described as a Tencent product because both companies operate major messaging platforms. Tencent owns WeChat, while Meta owns WhatsApp. Their services are independent and have different corporate histories.