Instagram has introduced a new premium subscription called ‘Instagram Plus’, marking the platform’s latest effort to offer paid features beyond its free experience. Instagram continues to remain free for everyone, with Instagram Plus serving as an optional upgrade for users who want additional customisation tools, deeper insights, and new ways to interact with friends.
One standout feature of Instagram Plus is the ability to see how many times a Story has been rewatched. While it offers deeper engagement insights, some users may view it as a fun way to identify their biggest fans, those who keep coming back to watch the same Story more than once.👀
Instagram Plus features and tools
The Instagram Plus subscription focuses on three key areas: helping users connect more closely with friends, providing additional Story insights, and offering greater control over profile personalisation.
Among the standout features is Story Spotlight, which gives a user’s Stories priority visibility among friends. Instagram Plus subscribers will also get access to Super Hearts, animated reactions for Stories, as well as Multiple Story Audiences, allowing users to create several custom sharing lists instead of being limited to a single Close Friends group.
Instagram is also adding new analytics and viewing tools. Subscribers can preview Stories without the pressure to immediately react, see how many times a Story has been rewatched, and search Story viewer lists to check whether a specific person has viewed their content. Another feature, Story Extend, allows Stories to remain visible for 48 hours instead of the standard 24-hour period.
On the customisation side, Instagram Plus introduces custom app icons, custom bio fonts, support for pinning up to six posts on a profile, and the ability to post directly to a profile or highlights without having the content appear in followers’ feeds.
The move mirrors a broader trend across social media platforms. Services such as Snapchat+, Telegram Premium, and X Premium have successfully introduced paid memberships by offering exclusive features rather than locking core functionality behind a paywall.
Instagram has not yet revealed pricing for Instagram Plus, which may ultimately determine how attractive the subscription becomes. For creators, influencers, and users who frequently post Stories, the added visibility tools and insights could prove valuable. Casual users, however, may find the standard free Instagram experience remains sufficient for their needs.
