Meta officially launched paid subscription plans for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp on Wednesday. The new plan gives users the option to pay a few dollars per month for extra features across its flagship apps. The company made the announcement in an Instagram post, where head of product Naomi Gleit provided an outline of the new paid "Plus" plans.
Instagram Plus and Facebook Plus run $3.99 a month, while WhatsApp Plus is slightly cheaper at $2.99, according to TechCrunch. The plans are now rolling out globally.
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Extra features for Meta subscription
For Instagram users, the $3.99 subscription offers several extra features focused on Stories and profile customisation. Subscribers can check how many people rewatched their Stories, create unlimited audience lists, keep Stories visible for longer than 24 hours and preview Stories without appearing as a viewer. The plan also includes weekly spotlight boosts, animated Super Heart reactions, custom app icons, personalised bio fonts and more profile pin options.
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Facebook Plus offers many similar tools, mainly centred around profile customisation and social features. Meanwhile, WhatsApp Plus focuses more on personalisation, adding features such as app themes, custom ringtones, premium stickers and extra pinned chats.
Meta expands paid subscriptions across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp
Meta is expanding its paid subscription services with the global rollout of Facebook Plus, Instagram Plus and WhatsApp Plus, according to executive Naomi Gleit. She also said the company is working on additional subscription plans for businesses, creators and AI-based products.
What users will get with Facebook Plus and Instagram Plus
The new Instagram Plus and Facebook Plus plans will offer extra tools and premium features, including:
advanced analytics
story rewatch insights
better audience reach
profile customisation options
Meta under pressure over AI spending
The subscription push comes at a time when Meta is facing growing investor pressure over its huge AI investments. The company recently said it expects to spend between $125 billion and $145 billion this year, largely on AI data centres and infrastructure.
Following the announcement, Meta shares rose nearly 3%.
Meta One could combine all subscriptions
Gleit also revealed that Meta plans to eventually bring its different subscription products under a single brand called “Meta One.”
Back in 2023, Meta introduced paid ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram in Europe to comply with EU privacy rules, allowing users to choose between a free ad-supported version or a paid experience without ads.
(With AFP inputs)
