Facebook charging $3.99 to anonymously view users’ stories in new subscription model

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For years, Meta assured users its apps would remain free. However, on May 27, 2026, the company subtly changed its position.

Meta, the company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is expanding its paid subscription options worldwide. Bloomberg reports that Meta is also currently testing a new paid plan specifically for its AI features.

Okay, so Meta’s changing things up with their AI. Basically, they’re putting some of the cool stuff – like the ‘Thinking mode’ where the AI really seems to think through things, and the tools that let you create images and videos – behind a subscription. I used to be able to use those for free, but now there’s a paywall and, even then, there’s going to be limits on how much I can actually use them. It’s a bummer, honestly, because those were some of the best features!

Meta AI subscriptions explained

Instagram Plus and Facebook Plus will cost $3.99 per month, while WhatsApp Plus runs $2.99.

Facebook and Instagram are adding new features for their paid subscribers. On Facebook, subscribers can now make stories last up to 48 hours, send fun animated heart reactions to friends’ stories, and see how many times their stories have been rewatched. Instagram Plus takes it further, letting subscribers secretly preview stories without the owner knowing, highlight one story each week to reach more people, and extend the life of their own stories to a full 72 hours.

WhatsApp Plus offers a simpler experience with a couple of useful additions: you can pin up to 20 chats to the top of your screen and use exclusive Premium stickers. Meta clarified that these new features don’t replace Meta Verified – the existing paid subscription for a verified badge – which will continue as a separate offering.

Meta is making a big change with its AI offerings. They’re currently testing new subscription plans – Meta One Plus at $7.99 a month and Meta One Premium at $19.99 – in Singapore, Guatemala, and Bolivia. Both plans give users more access to AI features like creating images and videos, and an enhanced ‘Thinking mode’ for more complex tasks. While free users will still be able to use these features, they’ll have limitations that didn’t exist previously. According to Bloomberg, this is all part of Meta’s plan to generate revenue to cover the massive costs of building and maintaining its AI technology.

Meta is currently testing two new subscription plans for creators and businesses: Meta One Essential for $14.99 and Meta One Advanced for $49.99. The more expensive plan, Meta One Advanced, gives subscribers a boost in search results on both Instagram and Facebook, and for the first time, allows them to add clickable links directly within their Instagram posts and Reels.

Back in January, TopMob revealed Meta was planning paid subscription options for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. By late March, they were already quietly testing a feature allowing users to share Stories anonymously.

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2026-05-27 23:49