Meta has confirmed it’s testing a paid-for Instagram Plus subscription plan in select markets, which will enable users to make their stories last longer.
Currently available in the Philippines, Mexico and Japan at price points that roughly converts to around $1 per month in the Philippines and $2 per month in Mexico and Japan, Instagram Plus introduces plenty of new features and perks that go beyond the free plan.
These additional features include a set of story-focused tools such as the ability to extend a story’s lifespan by an additional 24 hours beyond the standard expiration window.
Additional perks bundled into Instagram Plus include the creation of multiple story audiences, story rewatch insights, a search function within the story viewer list, story previews, super hearts for stories, and a spotlight option that increases a story’s visibility within the platform.
The 24-hour story extension carries the most practical weight for creators and small businesses that use Instagram stories as a primary promotional tool, since the additional window keeps time-sensitive content like limited offers, event announcements, and product launches visible to followers who may have missed the original posting window.
This feature set mirrors the approach Snapchat took with its Snapchat Plus subscription, which similarly gates enhanced versions of core social features behind a low monthly fee rather than introducing entirely new functionality unavailable elsewhere on the platform.
Each of the three test markets receives the first month of Instagram Plus at no charge, giving users a window to evaluate whether the story-centric additions justify the ongoing cost before committing to a recurring payment.
Once the free month ends, users in the Philippines will pay PHP 65 a month, making Instagram Plus one of the more affordable social media subscriptions in the region compared to similar offerings from X and Snapchat.
At the time of writing, Meta has not stated whether the Instagram Plus test will expand to additional countries or confirmed that the current feature set represents the final version of the subscription, leaving the broader rollout timeline and scope open.
Instead, Instagram Plus is currently in testing in the Philippines, Mexico, and Japan, with no confirmed date for a wider international release.
