- By Prateek Levi
- Thu, 28 May 2026 01:26 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Meta Paid Subscriptions Plans: The Californian tech giant Meta has finally announced the rollout of its consumer subscription plans globally for its umbrella of apps, namely Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, and is commencing tests for new subscriptions for Meta AI users as well as businesses and creators. Now the social media giant will charge you for a few extra features. Consumers will now have to pay to get a subscription to what will now be sold as Instagram Plus ($3.99/mo), Facebook Plus ($3.99/mo), or WhatsApp Plus ($2.99/mo). Although packages and pricing for India have not been revealed yet.
A few extra features to note here are profile customisation, super reactions and story insights. In a video announcement made via Instagram, Naomi Gleit, Meta's product head, has added that the company wishes to add "more fun features" in the future, which looks like a move to grab more consumers to capitalise on. Apart from that, Meta will also start testing other things, like its offerings for creators and businesses, and these will be branded as "Meta One".
The tech conglomerate had laid down its plan to roll out subscription plans earlier this year. The company says the idea is to provide consumers with more additional features from users who want more from these Meta apps. Apart from that, the company also wants to diversify its source of revenue, which goes beyond advertising; it will allow the company to get more out of its already existing consumer base, which goes into billions.
What's On The Offer?
According to a report by TechCrunch, Instagram Plus users may get access to several exclusive tools. One of the biggest additions is the ability to check how many times a story has been replayed. Subscribers could also create unlimited audience lists for Stories and even view someone’s Story without revealing their identity.
The paid tier is also expected to let users keep Stories active for longer than the standard 24-hour limit. On top of that, users may get a weekly “Spotlight” feature that boosts the visibility of one selected story. Meta is reportedly also adding a search tool inside the Story Viewer list, making it easier to find specific viewers.
Apart from functional upgrades, Instagram Plus could include a few visual customisation options as well. These may include animated Super Heart reactions, exclusive app icons, custom fonts for bios, and support for additional profile pins.
WhatsApp Plus is also said to bring several premium additions aimed at improving the messaging experience. Reports suggest the platform could offer custom chat themes, personalised ringtones, exclusive stickers, support for more pinned chats, and deeper chat list customisation features.
What Is This "Meta One"?
The tech company also wants to capitalise beyond just social media apps and has introduced what is being called "Meta One", which comes with AI, creator and business-focused plans. The cheap one itself, called Meta One, will cost $7.99 (approx. Rs 755)/mo and will be targeting users who frequently use Meta AI for image generation, video creation or handling reasoning tasks.
The high-end Meta One Premium tier is priced at $19.99 (roughly Rs 1,939) per month. The plan is expected to include the same AI-powered features available in lower tiers, but with much higher usage limits for people who rely heavily on Meta’s AI tools.
While Meta AI will continue to remain free for regular users, advanced features such as AI image generation, video creation and other intensive AI tools may eventually become restricted once free usage limits are reached. Users who need extended access will likely have to move to a paid plan.
The company has not yet revealed the exact limits attached to each subscription tier, though it says the Premium version will offer significantly greater capacity for AI usage.
Meta is initially launching these AI subscriptions in Singapore, Guatemala and Bolivia, with plans to expand to more markets later.
Interestingly, the AI subscription won’t just be limited to Meta AI. According to Bloomberg, subscribers will also gain access to premium features available across Meta’s apps. Helen Ma, Meta’s head of subscriptions, reportedly said the company wants these plans to connect seamlessly across its broader ecosystem.
The move also highlights Meta’s larger strategy of recovering the massive costs involved in building advanced AI systems while targetting users to spend more time within its apps and services.
Other Plans Being Dropped
Alongside AI-focused subscriptions, Meta is also introducing new plans aimed at creators and businesses. The company is launching Meta One Essential at $14.99 (around Rs 1,454) per month and Meta One Advanced at $49.99 (roughly Rs 4,849) per month.
The Essential plan is focused on creators and includes perks such as account verification, protection against impersonation, and enhanced profile links that can help users promote themselves across websites and social platforms.
Meanwhile, the advanced plan targets influencers, professionals and businesses looking for stronger visibility and support tools. Subscribers may receive priority placement in Facebook feeds and search results, bold Follow buttons on Reels, advanced analytics, scheduling features, and moderation tools for accounts managed by multiple people.
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One of the most notable additions in the higher-end business plan is access to human customer support for Instagram and Facebook accounts, something many creators and small businesses have wanted for years.
Meta is also adding alerts that notify creators if someone reposts their content without proper credit, giving users better control over their original work online.