I have an iTunes receipt from 2013 for 69p paid for a year's worth of Whatsapp service. Their message then was "we charge because we don't want to show you ads"

I have an iTunes receipt from 2013 for 69p paid for a year's worth of Whatsapp service. Their message then was "we charge because we don't want to show you ads". IIRC they were always free in emerging markets like India though.