Meta introduces subscriptions for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, with more to come, including AI plans

Meta is expanding on its subscription offerings. On Wednesday, the social media giant announced that it is now launching its plans to register consumers worldwide for its popular apps, Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, as well as a new trial for businesses, developers, and users of Meta AI.

For a few dollars a month, consumers who subscribe to Instagram Plus ($3.99/mo), Facebook Plus ($3.99/mo), or WhatsApp Plus ($2.99/mo) will get additional features, such as profile changes, advanced features, and news notifications, among other things.

In the announcement, Meta product head Naomi Gleit said that “more fun” will be added in the future.

Meanwhile, Meta will begin testing other offerings, including technical plans for developers and businesses, and regular AI plans for all users. The new test will be called “Meta One,” which will serve as the company’s home for future subscriptions.

Trim confirmed that they are planning to register earlier this year, it’s his the first test Coming out of the spring. The idea behind the plans offered to consumers is to provide extras to power users who want more from their social media apps. It also allows Meta to diversify its revenue streams beyond advertising by extracting more value from existing billions of users, based on limited access to these programs, which have already reached a global reach.

The new “Plus” plans are tailored to each app individually, with Facebook Plus and Instagram Plus focusing on social media, while WhatsApp Plus focuses on personalization and messaging.

However, the company tells us that the new plans do not replace the existing ones, Verified Metawhich focuses on authentication, visual security, and additional support. (This may change over time, but for now, Meta is not canceling old plans.)

For starters, the new Instagram Plus plan gives subscribers access to additional features, such as being able to see how many people have viewed your entire Story, as well as the ability to create unlimited lists of Stories, beyond the “Close Friends” option. Users will also be able to check news once a week for review, add news beyond 24 hours, show news without showing as a viewer, search the list of news viewers to see who is watching, and more. Users will also be able to post directly to their profile and highlight without appearing on their followers’ feeds.

There are other features like Super Heart Story mode, app icons, customizable profile fonts, and access to additional profile pins.

This is designed to help creators and those who want to grow their following and understand their audience, and it can also attract more users.

Facebook Plus offers the same features as Instagram Plus. WhatsApp Plus, however, offers other features, such as app themes, ringtones, additional chats, list settings, default stickers, and more.

AI plans and more, including for developers and businesses

Along with the launch, Meta says it will begin testing subscription plans, which is when things start to get messy.

For users of Meta AI, it will test two plans – Meta One Plus ($7.99/mo) and Meta One Premium ($19.99/mo) with the same features, but the Premium plan unlocks more power for advanced queries. This means that the Premium plan will provide deep thinking for complex tasks (for example, “multiple thinking” in Meta AI software or online). It will also provide the ability to move videos and photos in Meta programs.

Meta AI will remain free for regular users, but these plans follow the same pattern as those offered by other AI providers that charge additional fees and complex usage. The plans will expand over the weeks to bring more benefits to those who use the AI ​​glasses, Meta says.

The AI ​​plan will begin testing next month, initially in Singapore, Guatemala, and Bolivia.

Two more plans for manufacturers and businesses will begin testing this week, in markets including Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Thailand, and Bangladesh.

The Meta One Essential plan ($14.99/mo) will provide a Verified badge, visual security, and a support page that users can link to their online presence on social media, similar to Meta Verified.

The more expensive Meta One Advanced plan ($49.99/mo) will include the benefits of the Essential plan, as well as the ability to be featured in Facebook feeds, appear higher in Facebook and Instagram search results, get attention with a bold “Follow” button on Reels, and automatically send “follow” invitations to people who engage with your posts.

It can also help creators and businesses drive people to their website or buy links to Instagram photos, Instagram Reels, and through Facebook and Instagram content and their wider pages. These goals, not surprisingly, include better analytics, including in-depth, competitive Instagram, and audience insights on Facebook.

Subscribers to advanced plans will be able to use optimized tools, tools to share access with other account managers (without sharing passwords), and notifications that warn others on Facebook or Instagram when they re-use your content so that you can request a letter indicating your original account.

Gleit admitted that Meta is still experimenting with AI and skill sets at the moment, but the goal is to bring them all together under Meta One, where they will continue to be updated and expanded over time.