Instagram has started rolling out a new subscription service called Instagram Plus.
The paid plan offers several extra features for users who want more control over their profile, stories, and account activity.
Meta has clarified that the regular Instagram experience will remain free.
Instagram Plus is completely optional and is aimed at users looking for additional tools and customization options.
The company says the subscription is being launched globally, with more features expected to arrive in future updates.
Stories Get the Biggest Upgrade
Most of the new features in Instagram Plus are focused on Stories.
One of the highlights is Story Spotlight, a feature designed to make a user’s stories more visible to friends and followers.
Subscribers will also get access to Story Extend.
Normally, Instagram Stories disappear after 24 hours, but with this feature, stories can stay visible for up to 48 hours.
This means users won’t need to repost content if they want it to remain available for another day.
Create Multiple Story Audiences
Instagram Plus also introduces Multiple Story Audiences.
Instead of relying on a single Close Friends list, users can create different audience groups and decide exactly who can view each story.
This gives users more flexibility and privacy when sharing content with different groups of people.
Another addition is Super Hearts, animated reactions that can be used when responding to someone’s story.
New Tools to Track Story Performance
The subscription also includes features that provide more information about story engagement.
With Story Rewatch Insights, users can see how many times people have rewatched a story after viewing it once.
Instagram is also adding a Search Viewer List feature.
This allows users to quickly check whether a specific person has viewed their story.
Another tool called Story Preview lets users preview stories without immediately interacting with them.
More Ways to Customize Your Profile
Instagram Plus subscribers will get several new profile customization options.
Users can choose from different app icons instead of using the standard Instagram logo.
There is also a Custom Bio Font feature that allows users to change the appearance of text in their profile bio.
Instagram is increasing the number of pinned posts as well. While regular users can pin up to three posts, Instagram Plus subscribers will be able to pin as many as six posts on their profile.
Post Without Showing It in Followers’ Feeds
One of the more interesting additions is a feature that allows users to add content directly to their profile or highlights without it appearing in followers’ feeds.
This gives users more control over how content is displayed on their profile.
Price and Availability
According to Meta, Instagram Plus is now being rolled out in multiple markets around the world.
The subscription is priced at $3.99 per month where available.
Meta has also confirmed that additional Instagram Plus features are already being developed and will be introduced gradually through future updates.
For users who spend a lot of time on Instagram, the new subscription could offer more customization, privacy, and control than the standard free version.
