Meta announced paid ad-free subscriptions for Facebook and Instagram in the UK in September 2025. Its announced price for the first account was £2.99 per month on the web or £3.99 per month through the iOS or Android app. A UK trial with user notifications was reported in January 2026, but current availability and checkout prices may vary by account; check the offer shown in your Meta account.
How much does ad-free Facebook or Instagram cost in the UK?
Meta’s 26 September 2025 announcement set the following monthly prices for the first account. These are announced terms, not confirmation of the live price offered to every user today.
| Purchase route | Announced price for first account | Announced charge for each additional account |
|---|---|---|
| Web | £2.99 per month | £2 per month |
| iOS or Android app | £3.99 per month | £3 per month |
Meta attributed the higher app-store prices to purchasing fees charged by Apple and Google. The actual offer, eligibility and checkout terms can differ by account or purchase route, so use the amount shown when you subscribe. Meta’s UK announcement contains the original terms.
Does one subscription cover both Facebook and Instagram?
Meta said the subscription would cover the Facebook and Instagram accounts a person had added to Meta Accounts Center. If you add more than one account, the announced terms charge an additional monthly fee for each extra account, as shown above. Check which accounts are included in your own offer before confirming payment.
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Can you still use Facebook and Instagram for free?
Yes. Meta said its free, ad-supported experience would remain available: users could continue to use the platforms with ads and manage their ads experience through controls such as Ad Preferences. Meta stated, “The experience for those who choose to use our services for free will not change. They will continue to see ads on our platforms and will still be able to control their ads experience.” This was Meta’s description of the free option in its September 2025 announcement.
What does Meta mean by ad-free?
Meta said that subscribers’ personal data would not be used to show them ads. Its wording is specific to advertising use: “Our social media services are personalised, but when someone subscribes, their personal data will not be used to show them ads.” This is not a claim that subscribing stops all collection or processing of personal information; Meta says its services remain personalised.
Is the UK subscription available to everyone now?
STV News reported on 28 January 2026 that Facebook and Instagram were trialling paid ad-free subscriptions in the UK and that users had received notifications that week. According to the report, the initial notification could be dismissed. That report documents a trial at that time, not universal access or the current rollout stage. STV’s report describes the notifications; for present availability, check the subscription offer in your own account.
What did the UK privacy regulator say?
On 26 September 2025, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) described Meta’s approach as a “consent or pay” model and welcomed its decision to ask users for consent to use personal information to target them with ads. The ICO said that users needed meaningful transparency and choice and that the price should provide a fair choice. An ICO spokesperson said: “People must be given meaningful transparency and choice about how their information is used.”
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThe ICO also said the UK price point was “close to half” that of EU users; that is the regulator’s comparison in its 2025 statement, not a current independent price comparison. The ICO said it would assess users’ choices and monitor the rollout, rather than issuing a blanket approval of every later implementation detail. Read the ICO’s statement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Meta One the same as the ad-free subscription?
No. Meta’s 15 September 2026 announcement described Meta One as a separate subscription suite featuring app features, more AI use, and tools for creators and businesses. Meta said the core app experience would remain free; the announcement did not identify Meta One as the UK ad-free Facebook and Instagram subscription. Meta’s Meta One announcement describes that separate offering.
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