People believe WhatsApp free and while I'm using it for quite some time now - let me tell you; it's not free. It's cheaper than SMS; but it's *NOT FREE*. Eat it, folks. You can't use Whatsapp without having an active Internet connection - either through your telecom service provider or through your local Wi-Fi. Of course, it's free only when you have access to your neighbour's unsecured wi-fi connection or live in a free wi-fi zone area.

This article is all about educating you, the uninitiated, that you have to pay for your Internet connection. WhatsApp can end up being costly for all the messages you send and receive because even the incoming messages incur charges. If your friend sends you a video file - you have to use your data plan or wifi to download it on your device.

So how to use WhatsApp free of cost?

Several telecom operators have been offering WhatsApp access free of cost as their promotional plan. That's one way to use WhatsApp or simply hook to your local wireless network for which you don't have to pay. As a matter of fact, none of the things that rely on your data plan are free and that include WhatsApp rivals like Line Messenger, Telegram, WeChat and all others.