Meta, the company behind Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, is planning to introduce paid subscription options for each of these apps. Subscribers would gain access to extra features for a monthly fee.
For years, most social media has been free, but that’s changing. We’re starting to see platforms find ways to make money, like X, formerly known as Twitter, which now charges a fee for account verification – a feature that used to be free for well-known users.
Just like YouTube Premium, which gets rid of ads and lets you continue watching videos, Meta seems to be planning its own paid subscriptions with similar benefits.
On January 26, 2026, Meta announced to TechCrunch that it will begin testing paid features on its popular apps, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp set to add premium subscription tiers
Meta hasn’t announced when it might introduce paid subscription options for its apps, but the plan is likely to offer tools that boost productivity and creativity, and further integrate artificial intelligence.
TechCrunch reports that users will soon be able to pay for extra features, while still enjoying the main services for free. The cost hasn’t been announced yet, but a subscription will simply expand the tools already available.
Instagram might soon let paying users view Stories privately, meaning the person who posted the Story won’t know they’ve seen it. According to tech expert Allesandro Paluzzi, who often discovers unreleased features, Instagram is also considering letting users create unlimited lists of followers, in addition to a special list showing who you follow but doesn’t follow you back.
A major benefit for paying users will be Meta’s new AI technology, Manus, which they recently purchased for around $2 billion. Manus is designed to rival popular AI programs like ChatGPT and Gemini.
#Instagram is working on adding a shortcut to Manus AI in the settings page 👀
— Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) January 23, 2026
We’ll need to wait for more information about how much these will cost, when they’ll be released, and where they’ll be available. However, we do know that each platform will have its own separate subscription plan, instead of a single plan for everything.
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2026-01-27 06:48