San Francisco, USA: Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has announced a significant reduction in the cost of its subscription service, slashing the monthly fee for the coveted blue checkmark to just $5 in its select regions, including Africa.
The new entry-level plan, dubbed X Premium Basic, offers users a lower-cost path to verification and several premium features, including post editing, bookmark folders, and priority ranking in replies.
The move comes as X seeks to grow its subscriber base and stabilize revenue streams in an increasingly competitive social media landscape.
Under the revised pricing structure:
- X Premium Basic ($5/month) offers the blue checkmark, post editing, bookmark folders, and modest visibility enhancements.
- X Premium Standard (approximately $8/month) retains higher-tier features including longer posts, advanced reply ranking, and ad revenue sharing eligibility.
- X Premium Plus (approximately $16/month) delivers an ad-free timeline experience and maximum prioritization across the platform.
The price drop marks a dramatic shift from earlier subscription models that charged a flat $8 (desktop) and $11 (mobile) per month for verification.
Company insiders say the change is designed to make verification more accessible to a broader range of users, particularly in emerging markets where price sensitivity has been a barrier to adoption.
Announcing the update, X leadership framed the lower pricing as part of an effort to encourage more creators, small businesses, and everyday users to adopt premium features. “Our goal is to democratize access to verification and to ensure every authentic user has the opportunity to stand out and be trusted,” said an official affiliated with the X organization leadership.
Critics, however, remain skeptical, arguing that lowering the cost could further dilute the meaning of the blue checkmark, which once denoted a vetted public figure or official source. Others have welcomed the move as a step toward inclusivity, especially for creators and professionals who rely on visibility to grow their audiences.
The update is rolling out gradually, and pricing may vary depending on users’ regions and whether they subscribe via the web or mobile platforms.
X, acquired by Elon Musk in 2022, has aggressively transformed its monetization strategy, experimenting with tiered subscriptions, creator payouts, and premium tools. The platform has faced both praise and backlash for turning verification into a paid feature, but continues to double down on subscriptions as a critical revenue pillar.
For users eager to claim their blue checkmark at the new price, enrollment is now open via X’s official settings under “Premium.”
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