Meta to test premium subscription plans for Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp
Stockholm, Jan. 27 (Hibya) - According to a report published by TechCrunch on Tuesday, Meta Platforms is preparing to test new subscription models in its apps in the coming months, including Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp.
The report, confirmed by a Meta spokesperson, said the subscriptions are expected to “unlock more productivity and creativity” by giving paying users access to more features and expanded AI capabilities.
Meta’s recently acquired package of general AI agents under the Manus umbrella will also be scaled as part of the subscription plans. Meta Platforms bought Manus, a Singapore-based AI agent developer founded in China, for $2 billion in December.
With the new subscription plans, Meta may be aiming to generate a return on investment from the heavy spending it made last year on AI capabilities and acquisitions, even before the Manus purchase.
While Meta develops large language models under the Llama umbrella, they have been open source. That means broad access to Llama has remained free, unlike the paid plans offered by AI leaders such as OpenAI, Google and Anthropic.
Other features that could be offered as part of Meta’s paid plans may include full access to Vibes, an AI-powered short-video experience that allows users to create and remix AI-generated videos.
Although Vibes has been free since its 2025 launch, the new subscription model will provide free access to its base version, along with an option to pay for additional features.
The subscriptions will be separate from Meta Verified, a paid product launched by the company in 2023 that provides creators and businesses with a verified badge, 24/7 direct support, protection against impersonation, search optimization and more.
Meta told TechCrunch it plans to listen to its user community and gather feedback as it rolls out the subscriptions in the coming months.
British News Agency