Meta Rolls Out Plus Subscriptions for Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp

Meta is launching global Plus subscriptions for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp while testing paid Meta AI tiers that impose limits on free users. The plans introduce new revenue streams after major AI investments by adding story tools, chat pins, and enhanced AI generation.

Source:The Verge

Post

Meta Rolls Out Plus Subscriptions for Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp

TL;DRAI · 60 sec read

Meta is launching a global rollout of premium subscriptions for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp over the next few weeks. The company is also starting to test subscriptions for Meta AI, according to reports from TechCrunch and Bloomberg.

Instagram Plus and Facebook Plus will cost $3.99 per month. WhatsApp Plus will cost $2.99 per month. These subscriptions will not replace Meta Verified.

The free version of Meta AI will now have usage limits in its Thinking mode and with video and image generation.

Instagram Plus adds the ability to spotlight a story once per week, extend the availability of a story for an additional 24 hours, and preview someone else’s story without showing up as a viewer.

Facebook Plus lets users extend Facebook stories so they last for 48 hours instead of 24 hours. Additional features include the ability to pick a unique app icon for the Facebook or Messenger app, send Super Reactions as animated heart reactions on friends’ stories, search the story viewer list by name, see the number of times a story was rewatched, and view a mini preview of stories without showing up as a viewer. Posters are notified that the preview feature exists.

From The CircuitryThe Feed — live briefs across tech, all day.See what’s happening →

WhatsApp Plus adds the ability to pin up to 20 additional chats and use Premium stickers.

Meta joins other tech companies adjusting subscription plans to generate revenue after substantial AI investments.

Meta is testing Meta One Plus at $7.99 per month and Meta One Premium at $19.99 per month. These plans let subscribers generate more images and videos with Meta AI. The free version of Meta AI will now have usage limits in its Thinking mode and with video and image generation. Testing for these AI plans begins next month in Singapore, Guatemala, and Bolivia.

For creators and businesses, Meta is testing Meta One Essential at $14.99 per month, which includes the Meta Verified badge. Meta One Advanced costs $49.99 per month and lets subscribers appear higher in search results on Instagram and Facebook. It also allows Instagram creators to offer clickable links in posts and reels. These plans begin testing later this week in countries including Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Thailand, and Bangladesh.

The new offerings follow Meta's earlier tests of premium subscriptions announced this year. Meta joins other tech companies adjusting subscription plans to generate revenue after substantial AI investments. Google, for example, recently lowered the price of its most expensive subscription and added YouTube Premium.

Why this mattersAI · ~100 words

Tap a lens to see what this story means for you.

Reader-supported

DonateBuy me a coffee →Follow@thecircuitry_ →Follow@thecircuitry.to →

Reader-supported · The Brief

Liked this? The Brief brings you the whole day in tech, verified, every morning. Two minutes, free forever.

HELP US IMPROVE

Reader-supported

The Circuitry is a passion project I've always wanted to build, and I love the work behind it.

Running it costs real money. APIs, hosting, time. To keep improving the site and growing this into something useful for everyone, those costs have to be covered.

Any contribution is appreciated. If not, no pressure. Thanks for reading.

Buy me a coffee

Meta Facebook Subscriptions

MORE IN TECH

Apple raises prices $100 across every remaining previous-generation iPhone

Apple has raised prices by $100 on the iPhone 16, full iPhone 17 lineup and iPhone Air immediately after unveiling the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro, according to tipster reports. The move means an affordable iPhone now costs more than it did yesterday.

Apple Launches Its C2 Cellular Modem Alongside iPhone Duo

Apple introduced the C2 modem with the iPhone Duo announcement, promising up to 50% faster uploads, 15% lower power consumption, and mmWave support in the US. Fully integrated with the A20 Pro and iOS 27, the platform uses AI algorithms to strengthen connection reliability in weak signal areas.

Windows 10 1607 DHCP Server Hit by CVSS 8.0 Vulnerability

Microsoft disclosed CVE-2026-69412, an 8.0-rated stack-based buffer overflow in Windows DHCP Server that lets an authenticated attacker execute code over an adjacent network, affecting Windows 10 1607. Patches are available while exploitation remains unlikely with no known attacks reported.