Twitter is set to launch two new subscription tiers, according to a tweet by Elon Musk. While no specific release date was provided, Musk explained that one of these tiers would be more affordable than existing plans, while the other would come at a higher cost. The affordable plan will not remove ads, but the more expensive option will provide an ad-free Twitter experience.
The news aligns with a recent report by Bloomberg, stating that Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino met with lenders to discuss diversifying the Twitter Premium subscription model into different tiers. The new tiers are expected to include Basic and Plus plans, with the current offering being categorized as the Standard plan. Plus subscribers will gain ad-free access, while Basic and Standard subscribers will still see ads, though fewer than non-subscribers.
However, several details about these new subscription plans remain unclear, such as whether and when they will be available to Indian users and if they will apply to both the mobile app and the web version. Historically, Twitter Premium plans have featured lower prices for the web/desktop app compared to mobile app subscriptions on Android and iOS.
It’s important to note that the new subscription plans seem to be designed for individual users, not organizations. Currently, in India, the annual Twitter Premium plan for the desktop app costs Rs 6,800, while the monthly plan is priced at Rs 650. For the Twitter mobile app, the annual Premium subscription plan is available for Rs 9,400, and the monthly plan is Rs 900.
Twitter’s existing subscription plans provide several benefits, including prioritized rankings in conversations and search, text formatting options in posts, the ability to post longer videos and upload 1080p videos, access to the popular edit button, the option to create bookmark folders, and early access to new features. Although these plans do not offer an entirely ad-free experience, Twitter promises “twice as many posts between ads” in the For You and Following timelines.
This development comes after Twitter recently introduced a new testing model in New Zealand and the Philippines, which monetizes features like reposting and replying to tweets for a minimal annual premium of $1. The company claims that this test is not aimed at generating revenue but is rather intended to reduce the number of bots on the platform.
