Meta rolls out Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp Plus subscriptions globally, tests AI and professional plans

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Meta rolls out Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp Plus subscriptions globally, tests AI and professional plans

Meta has officially launched its consumer subscription plans for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, rolling them out globally starting Wednesday. The new offerings, branded as Instagram Plus, Facebook Plus, and WhatsApp Plus, aim to provide power users with additional features for a monthly fee. Alongside these, the company is beginning tests of AI-focused plans and professional subscriptions for creators and businesses under the umbrella brand Meta One.

Pricing and features of the new Plus plans

Instagram Plus and Facebook Plus are priced at $3.99 per month, while WhatsApp Plus costs $2.99 per month. Each plan is tailored to its respective app. Instagram Plus includes features such as story viewer lists, the ability to see aggregate story rewatch counts, unlimited audience lists for stories, weekly story spotlighting, and custom app icons. Facebook Plus offers similar social expression tools. WhatsApp Plus focuses on personalization, offering app themes, custom ringtones, additional pinned chats, and premium stickers.

These plans do not replace Meta’s existing Meta Verified subscription, which focuses on verification and impersonation protection. Meta confirmed that Meta Verified will remain available for now, though the company has not ruled out future changes to its subscription structure.

Meta One: AI plans and professional tiers

Meta is also testing two AI subscription plans under the Meta One brand. Meta One Plus ($7.99/month) and Meta One Premium ($19.99/month) will offer additional compute capacity for Meta AI queries, with the Premium plan providing deeper reasoning for complex tasks and enhanced video and image generation capabilities across Meta’s apps. Free access to Meta AI will remain available for casual users.

These AI plans will begin testing next month in Singapore, Guatemala, and Bolivia. Meta says the plans will later expand to include benefits for users of its AI glasses.

For creators and businesses, Meta is testing two professional plans: Meta One Essential ($14.99/month) and Meta One Advanced ($49.99/month). Essential includes a verified badge, impersonation protection, and an enhanced linksheet. Advanced adds features such as prioritized placement in Facebook and Instagram search results, a bold Follow button on Reels, automated follow invitations, and deeper analytics including competitive insights and custom audience data. These professional plans will begin testing later this week in Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Thailand, and Bangladesh.

Why this matters for users and Meta’s business

The move reflects Meta’s strategy to diversify revenue beyond advertising, especially as its core apps near global saturation. By offering premium features, the company aims to extract more value from its billions of active users while maintaining a free, ad-supported tier. For users, the plans provide new customization and growth tools, though the proliferation of subscription tiers could lead to confusion about what each plan includes.

Naomi Gleit, Meta’s head of product, acknowledged that the company is still experimenting with these offerings. She noted that Meta One will serve as the central home for all subscription plans, which will be updated and expanded over time.

Conclusion

Meta’s global rollout of Plus subscriptions and the testing of AI and professional plans mark a significant shift in its monetization strategy. While the new tiers offer genuine value for power users and creators, the complexity of multiple subscription options may challenge user adoption. The coming months will reveal whether these plans gain traction or require further refinement.

FAQs

Q1: Do the new Plus plans replace Meta Verified?
No. Meta confirmed that the Plus plans are separate from Meta Verified, which remains available for verification and impersonation protection. However, the company has not ruled out future changes to its subscription structure.

Q2: When will the AI and professional plans be available globally?
Meta is testing these plans in select markets initially. AI plans begin testing in Singapore, Guatemala, and Bolivia next month. Professional plans start testing later this week in Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Thailand, and Bangladesh. Broader availability has not been announced.

Q3: Will free users lose access to any features?
No. Meta has stated that free access to its apps and Meta AI will remain available. The subscription plans are optional and designed for users who want additional features or capabilities.

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