Meta is testing a premium subscription service for Instagram called Instagram Plus, offering exclusive Story features. The tests are live in countries including Mexico, Japan, and the Philippines at prices around $1 to $2 per month. A Meta spokesperson confirmed the rollout aims to identify valuable premium options.
Meta has launched tests for Instagram Plus, a subscription service providing exclusive features focused on Stories. These include spotlighting one story per week for greater visibility, previewing others' stories without appearing as a viewer, and extending stories for an additional 24 hours beyond the standard limit. Other perks encompass creating multiple story audiences beyond close friends, seeing who rewatched a story, searching viewer lists, and super heart reactions for stories. Core Instagram functions remain free, with the features geared toward professional creators, as first reported by TechCrunch and confirmed by a Meta spokesperson to Engadget on March 30, 2026. A Meta spokesperson stated the tests are active in a few countries and seek to 'understand what’s most valuable to people in a premium feature set.' Pricing hovers at about $1 to $2 monthly, including 65 Philippine pesos (roughly $1.07 USD) in the Philippines and 39 Mexican pesos (about $2.15 USD) in Mexico, with a free one-month trial available. The initiative builds on Meta's earlier plans to introduce paid features across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, mirroring Snapchat+'s model that has driven significant subscription revenue since 2022.
