Meta Launches Paid, Ad-Free Facebook and Instagram in Europe

New subscription service priced at $20 per month, additional fees for multiple profiles starting March 1

Meta Platforms Inc. has launched a paid, ad-free version of Facebook and Instagram in Europe in response to new privacy regulations. The subscription is priced at approximately $20 per month, offering an alternative to the targeted ad experience on these platforms.
Users of both platforms will eventually be required to pay an additional fee to maintain ad-free profiles on both platforms. The ad-free version costs €9.99 monthly on the web and €12.99 per month if purchased through Google’s or Apple’s app store. This fee currently covers all linked accounts.
Starting March 1, subscribers will need to pay an extra fee for any additional linked profiles — €6 per month if bought directly or €8 if purchased through an app store. The ad-free service is only accessible to users who are at least 18 years old.
The move comes after rumors of ad integration in WhatsApp, another Meta-owned platform. However, WhatsApp’s chief, Will Cathcart, refuted a report suggesting that the company was considering adding ads to the chat platform’s conversation list.
The decision to offer an ad-free subscription is about complying with changing European regulations. It will still earn the company cash, though—Meta is charging €9.99/month (Web) or €12.99/month (iOS and Android) to access the ad-free versions of the platforms.