Meta has launched paid subscription plans for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp as part of its efforts to diversify revenue beyond advertising and expand its AI business, according to medianama.com. The new consumer plans—Instagram Plus and Facebook Plus at $3.99 per month, and WhatsApp Plus at $2.99 per month—offer enhanced features focused on profile customization, audience insights, and messaging tools.
The rollout includes Instagram Plus, which provides Story rewatch insights, unlimited Story audience lists, extended Story durations, profile customization, and additional profile pins. WhatsApp Plus features app themes, custom ringtones, premium stickers, and more pinned chats, while Facebook Plus offers similar social and profile enhancements. Meta clarified these subscriptions will not replace its existing Meta Verified service, which focuses on account verification and protection against impersonation. Naomi Gleit, Meta’s head of product, announced the launch in a video.
This move marks a significant shift as Meta seeks new revenue streams amid increasing competition and changing user expectations. The subscription plans aim to enhance user engagement by offering premium features, while the company also tests AI-focused subscriptions under the ‘Meta One’ brand. Meta One Plus and Meta One Premium, priced at $7.99 and $19.99 per month respectively, will provide access to compute-heavy AI tools, signaling Meta’s push into AI monetization.
Looking ahead, Meta plans to continue expanding these subscription offerings and refine AI services under the Meta One umbrella. The company’s next milestones include broader rollout of these plans and further development of AI-powered features to attract paying users and diversify its business model beyond advertising.