It's official: Instagram is rolling out a new Subscriptions feature. 🎉
With it, creators can charge their community to access exclusive Instagram content — like Reels or feed posts — opening up a whole new way to connect (and make money) on the platform.
We're breaking down who has access to Instagram Subscriptions, and how it works, below.
What Are Instagram Subscriptions?
According to Instagram's creators account, "Subscriptions allow creators to earn recurring, predictable income and connect with their most engaged followers, by offering exclusive content and experiences — all in one place."
This exclusive content includes:
Posts
Lives
Stories
Reels
Badges
Group chats
Broadcast channels
As part of the new feature, creators can add a "Subscribe" button to their profile, and set a monthly price for exclusive content:
Additionally, subscribers will receive a special badge to help them stand out in a creators’ comments section and DMs.
NOTE: For subscriber-only content, only music from Meta's Sound Collection, or music that the creator owns (or is authorized to use) can be used.
Who Is Eligible for Instagram Subscriptions?
The feature is currently only available to eligible creators in the US, with tests to follow for creators in the UK, Canada, and Australia.
To be considered eligible, creators must:
Have at least 10K followers
Be over 18 years old
Have a professional account (here's how to switch to an Instagram Creator profile)
Meet Instagram's Partner Monetization Policy
Adhere to Instagram's Community Guidelines
How Much Will Creators Make From Instagram Subscriptions?
According to TechCrunch, creators can select from eight price points for subscription content, ranging from $0.99 per month to $99.99 per month.
Subscription payments will be taken via traditional in-app purchases across iOS and Android — and for the time being, Instagram will not take a cut of any payments.
So, What Does This Tell Us?
Between this year's creator marketplace rollout and its affiliate marketing tools, Instagram's going all in on the creator economy.
Instagram Subscriptions are simply another way to make the app more monetizable for creators (especially with competition from TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms).
In other words: if you're on the fence about becoming a content creator (part-time or full-time), now's your time to shine.
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