WhatsApp partners Giphy to expand its sticker library; rolls out custom sticker maker to Android

WhatsApp users will also be able to easily discover new sticker packs by previewing them in the sticker tray below the downloaded ones

WhatsApp is expanding its sticker library through a partnership with Giphy, a popular GIF search engine, the Meta-owned messaging app said on August 14.

The app said this integration will let users find and share "relevant and engaging" stickers directly within the app. One can tap the sticker icon within the chat window to access these stickers and search through them using text or emoji.

Meta had sold Giphy to Shutterstock, a popular stock photo, video, and music provider for $53 million in May 2023. This was after Meta's $315 million deal to buy Giphy was blocked by UK's competition regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in 2022.

WhatsApp, the world's largest messaging app, is also expanding its custom sticker maker to Android, enabling people to create, edit and share their own stickers. The feature was previously launched on iOS in January 2024.

Custom sticker maker enables people to turn their photos into personalised stickers or customise existing stickers using editing tools like crop, text, and draw. Once created, the stickers are automatically saved in the sticker tray for easy access.

WhatsApp also mentioned that people can use Meta's AI chatbot Meta AI to create more custom stickers. AI sticker creation is currently available on iPhone and Android in the United States. Android users can also test creating AI stickers in Spanish, and Bahasa Indonesia languages, it said.

WhatsApp users will also be able to easily discover new sticker packs by previewing them in the sticker tray below the downloaded ones. One can organise the sticker tray by tapping and holding a sticker to move to the top or delete it, the company said.