Instagram Plus is a new subscription to pay for Instagram, and it’s being tried in a few countries. This payment is to get you more privacy, control, and a lot of extras with Stories. Instagram is doing this to get money from more than just ads, and it could really change how typical Instagram users use the app.
Overview of the Instagram Plus subscription
Instagram Plus isn’t for people who make things (creators) or businesses. Instead, for a small monthly price, it gets you a bunch of features for Stories and more ways to decide who sees your content. Instagram is seeing if people are interested before making it available to everyone.
The test is happening in a few places, and the cost is fairly low compared to a lot of other apps you pay for. It looks like it will be about one or two US dollars a month (the price depends on where you are), and this shows Instagram is flexible and will see how much people want it.
New Stories features in Instagram Plus
Most of the new things relate to Stories, which a lot of people on Instagram use. With the subscription, you can look at Stories without your name showing up on the list of who viewed. This is a change to how Stories have always worked and will appeal to people who like to browse in secret.
People who pay will also be able to see how many times their Story has been replayed. This gives you a better understanding of how people are interacting with your Story, beyond just the number of viewers. Plus, you can make your Stories stay visible for 48 hours instead of the usual 24.
Each week, subscribers can “boost” one Story to be at the very top of their followers’ Stories. Instagram is also testing fun, moving reactions (thought of as a better “Superlike” for Stories) to give you more ways to interact and show how you feel.
Audience and privacy controls
Instagram Plus allows you to manage your audience in more detail than the current “Close Friends” list. You can make numerous lists of people and pick which list will see each Story. This gives you more specific control over who you share with.
Instagram is testing a way to search through who’s viewed your Story, so if a lot of people have watched it, you can quickly find names. These features are designed to make looking after your privacy and dealing with inappropriate content easier for people who post Stories a lot.
Pricing and availability details
The test is going on in Mexico, Japan, the Philippines and other countries. The price is different depending on the country, but for now it’s usually around one to two dollars a month. Instagram hasn’t said what the price will be everywhere, or when it will be released to everyone.
Because this is a small test, the price and what you get for your money could change before it’s launched more widely. Instagram might combine features, change the cost, or decide where it’s available based on what people say and how many people sign up.
How Instagram Plus differs from other offerings
Instagram Plus is different from getting a blue checkmark or the packages for creators. It doesn’t focus on proving who you are and protecting your account. Instead, this is about making the day to day experience of using a normal account better, with more privacy, control and ways to customize your Stories.
Because of this, Instagram Plus shouldn’t get rid of the tools creators already have. It’s something else you can use, a cheap upgrade for those who want more control over how they share and see things that disappear after a while.
What Instagram Plus could mean for users and the platform
If Instagram Plus becomes more popular, it could change how people use Stories, and make it normal to watch anonymously and share with specific groups. People who use Stories frequently might be willing to pay for the added privacy and control, while those who only use Instagram occasionally might be fine with the free version.
For Instagram itself, this test shows a plan to get money from more than just advertising. Whether Instagram Plus becomes a permanent part of the app will depend on how many people get it, how valuable they find it, and how Instagram finds a balance between the things you pay for and the free experience everyone expects.
