United States: Technology giant Meta is preparing to trial premium subscription plans for users of Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp in the coming months, marking its latest push to expand paid services across its platforms.
The proposed subscriptions would offer access to enhanced features, including expanded artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, while keeping the core services free for all users. Meta is positioning the new plans as optional upgrades designed to deliver added value to creators, professionals and heavy users rather than replacing its existing ad-supported model.
Among the features being considered for subscription is access to Vibes, Meta’s AI-powered video generation app unveiled in September as part of the latest Meta AI update. The company says Vibes can help users bring ideas to life using new AI-driven visual creation tools.
Meta is also expected to integrate technology from Manus, a Chinese-founded AI company it agreed to acquire in December for a reported $2 billion (£1.46 billion), according to TechCrunch, which first reported the development. Manus will continue to offer standalone subscriptions to business clients, while also supporting Meta’s broader AI ambitions.
When announcing the deal, Meta said Manus would help accelerate the development of advanced AI agents capable of performing complex tasks with minimal user input, such as planning trips or building presentations. In a blog post, the company said Manus’s team would contribute to delivering general-purpose agents across both consumer and business products, including Meta AI.
Now headquartered in Singapore after relocating from China, Manus has sought to differentiate itself from rivals by claiming its system can operate as a ‘truly autonomous’ agent. The company says its technology can plan, execute and complete tasks independently based on user instructions, reducing the need for repeated prompts.
The acquisition has also drawn regulatory attention. In January, Beijing said it would investigate the deal to determine whether it violated China’s technology export laws or national security rules. Meta’s move toward subscriptions is not new. In recent years, the company has experimented with several paid features.
Last year, Facebook tested limits on the number of links some users could share in posts without a subscription, with notifications in the UK and US suggesting that higher posting volumes could become a paid feature. Meta described the trial as a way to evaluate whether increased posting capacity offered meaningful value to subscribers.
In 2023, the company also rolled out its paid verification service, allowing Facebook and Instagram users to purchase a blue tick for a monthly fee. The upcoming subscription trials suggest Meta is accelerating its shift toward a hybrid model that combines advertising revenue with paid premium features, particularly as AI tools become central to its product strategy.
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