Meta has started testing a paid-for Instagram Plus subscription plan that could give everyday users extra Story perks, adding a new layer of paid features to one of the app’s most-used formats. The early offering appears to focus on how people post, view, and manage Stories, hinting at a more premium version of everyday Instagram use without yet revealing the full shape of a broader rollout.
Features available with Instagram Premium
The subscription focuses largely on enhancing how users interact with Stories. One of the key additions is the ability to view Stories anonymously, allowing users to browse content without appearing in viewer lists. Subscribers will also be able to check how many times their own Stories have been rewatched, adding a layer of insight not available to free users.
Another change includes extended Story duration. While regular users are limited to 24 hours, premium subscribers can keep their Stories visible for up to 48 hours. Users will also gain the option to prioritise one Story per week, placing it at the front of followers’ Story trays.
Instagram Plus also introduces expanded audience controls. Users can create multiple custom audience lists beyond the existing Close Friends feature. In addition, a search tool for Story viewers is being added, making it easier to find specific names within large viewer lists. The platform is also testing interactive elements like animated “Superlikes” for Stories.
Pricing and availability
The paid plan is currently being tested in a limited number of countries, including Mexico, Japan, and the Philippines. Pricing varies across regions, with the subscription costing around $1 to $2 per month depending on the market. Meta Platforms has not confirmed a wider rollout timeline or whether pricing will change when the service expands.
What this means for users
With Instagram Plus, Meta Platforms appears to be experimenting with a dual model where core features remain free, while advanced tools are placed behind a paywall. If expanded globally, the subscription could change how users engage with Stories and manage their presence on Instagram.
Meta is moving into a model users already know, but with a more personal set of perks. The features in testing are tied to the small things people notice in Stories every day: who saw what, who gets to see it, how long it stays up, and how much visibility it gets. In short, users would be paying for more control inside the app’s social flow.
Not the first
Meta is far from the first social media company to launch a subscription tier. Snapchat and X have had similar offerings for some time now, with Snapchat+ attracting over 25 million subscribers.
The new subscription tier is separate from the Meta Verified service, which comes with a verification badge and impersonation protection features. It is not clear when Instagram Plus will launch in more markets and to more users.