Meta Plans Paid Premium Features on Instagram, Facebook & WhatsApp

- Meta will keep the core features free for its users. - Content creators and power users are put in the spotlight for the new paid version. - Meta plans to roll out testing of subscription features soon.

Adepu Bindu

27 Jan 2026 — 3 min read

Meta Plans Paid Premium Features on Instagram, Facebook & WhatsApp

MetaWhatsApp gives a shocker! Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp will soon have paid subscriptions and features. The apps have been free for the longest time, making users worldwide happy. According to EmbedSocial, Instagram holds over 2.35 billion total accounts in 2026. Increv says there are 3.065-3.07 billion monthly active users on Facebook. And there's likely no one who is not familiar with WhatsApp.

Now that people have the apps embedded into their day-to-day lives, Meta wants to capitalise on this by adding a subscription model. So, does that mean no more free WhatsApp calls and Instagram chats? If yes, then who and what will be affected? If not, then what will change on the Meta apps? For all that, learn more.

Meta’s Paid Subscription - WhatsApp, Instagram & Facebook

Meta has been dependent on ads for making money for years now. It's going to be a big change soon for users worldwide. TechCrunch reported that Meta will soon start testing paid subscriptions on all three major platforms. However, these subscriptions are optional, not mandatory. Hence, the core app functions will stay free.

According to the report, testing for the same will begin soon in a few selected regions first. This will be a gradual, slow rollout. By doing so, Meta aims to collect feedback and later decide on the final version. There's no official confirmation from Meta yet. And no clarification on the prices or estimations.

What Meta Premium (Paid) Users May Get?

People who pay for these subscriptions will get extra tools and features, such as:

Anonymous story viewing for Instagram (meaning you can watch anyone's story without them knowing you did).
AI-powered creative tools for advanced video editing and premium AI content generation (meaning you can create posts and videos using AI).
Better privacy with more options to manage your account, control interactions and adjust privacy settings.
Early access to Meta’s next-generation AI agents.

Who These Paid Meta Features Are Meant For?

Meta is mainly targeting:

Creators (people who make content)
Businesses
Power users (people who use Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook heavily)

Aspect: Meta Free Apps vs Meta Paid Subscription Features

Feature Area	Free Users (Current Apps)	Paid Users (Planned Premium Tier)
App access	Full access to Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp	Same apps, plus extra premium features
Cost	Free	Paid subscription (price not announced yet)
Story viewing (Instagram)	Normal viewing (visible to others)	Anonymous story viewing
Creative tools	Basic editing tools	AI-powered advanced video editing
Content creation	Manual content creation	AI content generation tools
Privacy controls	Standard privacy settings	Enhanced privacy and control options
Account management	Basic controls	Advanced account and interaction controls
AI features	Limited or standard AI tools	Early access to next-gen AI agents
Target users	All general users	Creators, businesses, power users
App experience	Ad-supported	More AI tools, more control, premium features

Why Is Meta Adding Paid Features to FB, WA and Insta?

Meta had this plan in for a very long time, and it was not random. For three main reasons, it is pushing out the plan now:

Wants to capitalise on its user base and not rely solely on ads for revenue. Therefore, subscriptions would give it a new income source. Secondly, to pay for its growing AI and tech costs, such as servers, data centres, and tech systems. Lastly, to compete with X and YouTube’s paid plan structures. These platforms already have paid versions, and it's high time Meta also jumped in.

Final Thoughts…

Here’s a final clarification you're looking for: If you are a regular user, the core features of the app remain the same. The subscription would suit users who use the apps extensively, especially content creators and businesses. Let’s wait for the official announcement to roll out. Keep in touch.