Inside Meta’s New Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp Plus Subscriptions

In one of the company’s biggest attempts yet to reduce its dependence on advertising revenue, Meta has officially launched paid subscription plans for Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp.

The announcement was made on May 28 by Meta’s Head of Product, Naomi Gleit. Gleit shared a video on Instagram where she confirmed the rollout of Facebook Plus, Instagram Plus and WhatsApp Plus. She also revealed that Meta is developing more subscription-based products aimed at creators, businesses and AI services.

How Much Will Meta’s Subscriptions Cost?

According to reports, Instagram Plus and Facebook Plus will cost $3.99 per month, while WhatsApp Plus will be priced at $2.99 monthly. In India, that roughly converts to around ₹340 for Instagram and Facebook subscriptions, and nearly ₹255 for WhatsApp Plus.

Meta clarified that the existing free versions of all three apps will continue to remain available. The subscriptions are designed as optional premium tiers offering additional tools and customisation features.

What Features Do Users Get?

Instagram Plus and Facebook Plus will reportedly include advanced analytics, details on story rewatches, audience reach tools and profile customisation options. The features appear to be largely targeted at creators, influencers and users looking for deeper engagement metrics.

WhatsApp Plus will focussed more on personalisation. Subscribers will reportedly gain access to premium stickers, custom app themes and personalised ringtones.

Why Is Meta Pushing Subscriptions Models?

Reportedly, Meta has been spending aggressively on artificial intelligence infrastructure. The company has projected annual capital expenditure between $125 billion and $145 billion, with a major portion allocated towards AI data centres and related technology.

Investors have increasingly questioned how Meta plans to sustain long-term revenue growth beyond digital advertising while continuing to fund its expanding AI ambitions, when Meta broke the news of the subscription models.

Meta One Could Be the Bigger Plan

This is not Meta’s first experiment with paid services. In 2023, the company introduced ad-free paid versions of Facebook and Instagram in parts of Europe to comply with stricter EU privacy regulations.

The current rollout will take that concept to a bigger, global audience.

Gleit also stated that Meta eventually plans to unify its subscription offerings under a larger ecosystem called “Meta One,” which could become the company’s central premium platform across apps and services.