Will Instagram stories soon be chargeable? Here's how the Meta tested subscription works

©Collabstr via Unsplash

Over the past few days, in Mexico, Japan and the Philippines, some Instagram users have discovered a new option in their settings: a new paid subscription. It's called Instagram Plus, and Meta confirmed its existence through TechCrunch on March 30, 2026.

It's not a test aimed at creators or businesses - for them, there's already Meta Verified. Instagram Plus is aimed at ordinary users, with a bouquet of features centered entirely on Stories.

What Instagram Plus offers

Key new features include the ability to view other people's Stories without the author knowing they've been seen - one of the longest-standing requests from users - as well as the ability to see how many times one's own Story has been reviewed.

Subscribers can create an unlimited number of audience lists for their Stories, beyond just the "close friends" list: in practice, each Story can be shared with a different group of followers, selected by the user.

Other included features include the ability to extend the duration of a Story to 48 hours, as opposed to the usual 24 hours, to highlight a Story once a week to push it to the top of followers' feeds, and to send animated reactions - the famous Superlike - to other people's Stories.

Subscription does not eliminate advertising: ads remain visible even to those who pay.

Prices in test countries

In Mexico, the offer costs 39 pesos per month (approx. 1.88 euros), in Japan 319 yen (approx. 1.74 euros) and in the Philippines 65 pesos (approx. 0.93 euros). These affordable rates, adapted to local markets, suggest a range of between one and two euros for European markets - but Meta has not yet given any official indication of a possible extension.

The difference with Meta Verified

Instagram Plus differs from Meta Verified, which is designed for creators and businesses and includes the blue badge, direct technical support and protection against identity theft. In Italy, Meta Verified costs between 13.99 and 16.99 euros per month. In contrast, Instagram Plus is aimed at the average user, with features for everyday use and a much lower price.

Meta's subscription strategy

Back in January 2026, Meta announced its intention to test premium subscriptions on Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, with the aim of offering exclusive features while retaining the free basic core of its platforms. The industry benchmark is Snapchat+, which starts at $3.99 a month and has already passed the 25 million subscriber mark. X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram have followed suit. Meta comes later, but with an unparalleled user base.

Source : techcrunch.com

(©GreenMe.it 2026/Managing editor: Selma Keshkire - The Press Junction/Picture: Collabstr via Unsplash)