Meta begins testing paid tier - Instagram Plus

Meta has reportedly started rolling out early tests of a new paid tier called Instagram Plus, offering subscribers a set of exclusive tools focused mainly on Stories.

Unlike previous monetisation efforts that focused on creators, this test appears to be aimed at regular users, suggesting that Meta is exploring whether everyday social media usage itself can be partially monetised.

Exclusive Features

The features in this initial test focus heavily on Stories, which continue to be one of Instagram’s most-used formats. Subscribers will be able to view other people’s Stories anonymously without appearing in the viewer list. They can also search through their own Story viewer lists to find specific accounts and see detailed rewatch statistics showing how many times each Story has been replayed.

Users in the test are able to create multiple audience groups, moving beyond the single “Close Friends” list. This allows for more segmented sharing, where different types of content can be directed to different circles.

Additional tools give users more creative control. Subscribers can extend a Story’s availability by an extra 24 hours, preview Stories before posting them, and spotlight one Story per week to give it greater visibility by placing it at the front of their followers’ Story trays.

Where it’s being tested and at what cost

Reports say, that the subscription is currently being tested in select markets, including Mexico, Japan, and the Philippines, indicating a phased rollout across different regions.

Pricing in these markets is reported to range between $1 to $2 per month (approximately ₹80 to ₹165), depending on the country. The relatively low pricing suggests that Meta is positioning the offering as an accessible add-on rather than a premium-tier overhaul.

The company has not confirmed whether or when the feature will be introduced in larger markets such as India, and the current phase appears to be focused on evaluating user willingness to pay for incremental enhancements.

Meta has previously introduced paid offerings tied to creators and businesses for verification badge and impersonation protection. Instagram Plus, however, appears to test a different idea that is whether users will pay for incremental improvements to their everyday experience.