Meta Launches Paid Subscriptions in Israel for Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp

Meta has launched Meta One in Israel, a new subscription service for its platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Meta AI. While basic usage of these platforms and Meta AI will remain free, the new paid tiers offer advanced features, AI tools, and customization options for individuals, creators, and businesses.

For individual users, three separate plans are available: Instagram Plus and Facebook Plus, both costing 11.99 shekels per month, and WhatsApp Plus for 8.99 shekels per month. Instagram Plus offers additional fonts, message previews, and story viewer notifications. Facebook Plus includes customization options, insights on Reels performance, and special reactions. WhatsApp Plus provides custom themes, icons, special stickers, and the ability to pin more chats. Meta plans to introduce further features like chat backup storage and scheduled muting for WhatsApp Plus.

Two bundled plans are also offered. The Core plan, at 24.99 shekels per month, combines all features from the individual plans and offers expanded AI capabilities, including enhanced image and video generation in Meta AI and AI-powered photo editing. The Premium plan, priced at 60.99 shekels per month, includes all Core features with even broader access to Meta AI's creative tools and platform features.

For creators and businesses, Meta One introduces advanced account management tools, including an enhanced profile display, a prominent follow button on Reels, and automated follow invitations. A key feature for businesses is the Meta Business Agent, an AI-powered customer service and sales representative that operates 24/7 across Messenger, WhatsApp, and ads. This agent learns from existing business assets and can handle inquiries about operating hours, products, and initial customer service, escalating complex issues to human staff. Business plans range from Essential (starting at 53.99 shekels/month) to Max (starting at 1,999 shekels/month), with the highest tier offering unlimited access to human support agents for account-related issues, including assistance with account blocks, though not guaranteeing unblocking.

Meta intends to add more features and tools to Meta One in the future, including enhancements for "Edits" and its AI glasses. This launch comes amid user complaints in Israel regarding unjustified account blocks on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, and a lack of human customer support.