Meta has officially launched subscription-based "Plus" versions of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, creating a tiered system that limits certain features to paying users. The company is monetizing its core apps through subscription models that divide functionality between free and premium tiers, marking a significant shift from their traditional ad-supported approach.

Instagram Plus and Facebook Plus each cost $3.99 monthly, while WhatsApp Plus is priced at $2.99. Subscribers gain access to exclusive features like extended vanishing posts, detailed analytics, and custom themes. Free users will no longer have access to these premium capabilities, effectively creating a class divide within each platform's user base.

The company has branded its subscription testing initiative as "Meta One," which will encompass experiments across its apps, AI services, and business offerings. Meta is implementing usage limits on free AI services while introducing paywalled features for complex tasks. This strategy directly challenges the freemium models that have dominated tech platforms for over a decade.