Instagram Plus and WhatsApp Plus are here, and just the beginning

Meta has announced that a range of new subscriptions are now available and will be made available to all Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp users over the coming weeks. The scope of these "Plus" subscriptions varies depending on the app.

Instagram Plus costs $3.99 per month, and allows you to see how many people have viewed a Story multiple times, while unlimited follower lists can be created, rather than just a "Close Friends" list as with a free account. Subscribers can share stories for longer than the usual 24 hours and highlight them once a week to generate additional reach. With the subscription, it is also possible to see stories from other users without appearing on the list of people who have seen the story.

Small cosmetic features, such as a selection of different app icons or a font selection in your own profile, complete the subscription. Facebook Plus also costs $3.99 per month and offers a similar range of functions. WhatsApp Plus is slightly cheaper at $2.99 per month and includes the option to personalize the entire app with themes, use exclusive ringtones and send premium stickers.

These "Plus" subscriptions are offered in addition to the Meta Verified subscription. But Meta's flood of subscriptions doesn't end there, as the company also plans to offer AI subscriptions in the future with Meta One Plus for $7.99 per month and Meta One Premium for $19.99 per month, which will allow users to generate images and videos using AI. Meta One Advanced for $49.99 per month is primarily intended to increase reach on Facebook and Instagram.