Meta launches paid plus subscription plans for WhatsApp, Insta and Facebook: Details here

Meta has introduced paid Plus subscriptions for Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, alongside new Meta One plans. The move signals that Meta is no longer relying only on ads for revenue.

In Short

• Meta introduces paid plans for Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp users
• Subscribers get extra Story tools, themes, analytics and customisation options
• Meta also launches AI, creator and business-focused subscription plans

Meta is preparing to change the way people use Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp. The company has introduced new paid subscription plans with exclusive features for users globally, including in India. Meta is rolling out “Plus” versions of its apps, giving paying users access to tools and customisation options that regular users will not get.

The move signals that Meta is no longer relying only on ads for revenue. Instead, it now wants users to pay monthly for premium social media experiences, extra visibility and advanced messaging features.

Instagram Plus and Facebook Plus are priced at $3.99 (around Rs 387) per month, while WhatsApp Plus costs $2.99 (around Rs 290) per month. However, Meta has not yet revealed the exact India pricing.

Meta brings advanced tools and profile customisation to Facebook and Instagram

According to a report by TechCrunch, Instagram Plus subscribers will be able to see how many people rewatched their Stories, create unlimited Story audience lists beyond the Close Friends feature, and even preview Stories secretly without appearing in the viewer list.

The plan also allows users to extend Stories beyond the usual 24-hour limit and spotlight one Story every week for extra visibility. Another interesting feature lets users search their Story viewer list to see who is watching, and post directly to their profile and highlights without appearing in followers’ feeds.

Meta is also adding fun cosmetic upgrades. Instagram Plus users will get animated “Super Heart” reactions, custom app icons, special fonts for bios and more profile pins.

WhatsApp gets messaging personalisation

Facebook Plus is expected to offer similar features, while WhatsApp Plus is focusing on messaging personalisation. WhatsApp subscribers will get custom themes, unique ringtones, premium stickers, additional pinned chats and advanced list customisation tools.

In an announcement on Instagram, Naomi Gleit, Meta’s head of product, hinted that the company plans to add “more fun features” in the future.

Meta has also clarified that these new subscriptions are separate from Meta Verified, its existing paid verification service that offers identity verification, impersonation protection and customer support.

Meta’s subscription plans now go beyond social media apps

Meanwhile, Meta’s subscription ambitions go beyond social media apps. The company has also introduced “Meta One,” which includes AI, creator and business-focused plans.

The new Meta AI subscriptions will come in two tiers. The first plan, called Meta One Plus, will cost $7.99 (around Rs 775) per month and is aimed at people who frequently use Meta AI for generating images, creating videos or handling longer reasoning tasks.

A more expensive Meta One Premium plan will cost $19.99 (around Rs 1,939) per month and offer the same features but with much higher usage limits.

Meta AI users will still be able to access the chatbot for free. However, people using image generation, video creation and AI tools heavily will eventually hit usage limits unless they subscribe.

Meta has not disclosed the exact limits for each plan but says the Premium version will offer significantly more usage capacity.

The AI subscriptions are initially launching in Singapore, Guatemala and Bolivia, with more countries expected later.

Interestingly, people who subscribe to Meta AI will also get access to Meta’s app-specific premium offerings. In an interview with Bloomberg, Helen Ma, Meta’s head of subscriptions, said the company wants these plans to work across its ecosystem.

Meta’s bigger goal appears to be finding new ways to recover the enormous costs of building advanced AI systems while also pushing users deeper into its family of apps.

Meta also introduces creator and business-focused plans

The company is also introducing updated subscription products for creators and businesses. These include Meta One Essential at $14.99 (around Rs 1,454) per month and Meta One Advanced at $49.99 (around Rs 4,849) per month.

The Essential plan includes verification benefits, impersonation protection and enhanced profile links that help creators promote themselves across social media platforms and websites.

Meanwhile, the Advanced plan is designed for influencers and businesses looking for more reach and support. Subscribers may get priority placement in Facebook feeds and search results, bold “Follow” buttons on Reels, advanced analytics and scheduling tools, along with tools to manage accounts with multiple moderators.

One of the biggest additions in the premium business plan is access to human customer support for Instagram and Facebook pages. It is something many small businesses using Meta’s platforms have struggled with for years.

Meta is also promising alerts when other users repost your content without credit, giving creators more control over their original posts.

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