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Would You Pay to Use Facebook? Meta 'Plus' Subscriptions Rolling Out Now

Instagram and Facebook Plus cost $3.99 per month, while WhatsApp Plus starts at $2.99. Features include the option to watch stories anonymously and see who rewatched your story.

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Meta has officially launched individual Plus subscriptions for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. The company confirmed plans to launch these tiers earlier this year and began testing them in select regions in recent months.

Instagram Plus, Facebook Plus, and WhatsApp Plus are now rolling out globally. In the US, Instagram Plus and Facebook Plus start at $3.99 per month, while WhatsApp Plus starts at $2.99 per month.

Meta has yet to detail the features included with each tier, but I spotted an ad for Instagram Plus this week. It says subscribers can extend stories for up to 48 hours, create story audiences beyond Close Friends, see who rewatched your stories, search through your story viewer list, preview others’ stories anonymously, react with “super hearts,” and spotlight stories so that it’s easier for friends to find.

(Credit: Jibin Joseph/PCMag)

According to TechCrunch, similar features can also be expected with Facebook Plus. For WhatsApp Plus, initial tests revealed features like new app themes, premium stickers, custom ringtones, and more pinned chats. It could also let you take similar actions across multiple chat lists.

“These subscriptions offer richer ways to express and connect across our apps, with more fun features to be added,” Naomi Gleit, Meta’s head of product, said on Wednesday.

Notably, the Plus plans won’t replace the existing Meta Verified plan, which lets you verify yourself and get a blue badge next to your name. The two will co-exist and also pave the way for more plans.

Meta is already “testing new subscription plans that offer premium features for those who want to unlock more from our apps and AI glasses,” Gleit said. The new plans include one for Meta AI that lets you unlock higher usage limits, and another one for businesses and creators that lets them unlock premium tools across its apps to “enhance presence, supercharge content, automate tasks,” and protect their brand.

Eventually, all of the company’s subscription tiers are expected to sit under a unified place called “Meta One,” Gliet said. The hub is still under development and being tested, but some users may be able to spot it, she added.

About Our Expert

Jibin Joseph

Jibin Joseph

Contributor

Jibin is a tech news writer based out of Ahmedabad, India. Previously, he served as the editor of iGeeksBlog and is a self-proclaimed tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex information for a broader audience.

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