Bluesky is testing paid subscription features as the social media giant grows.

Bluesky is testing paid subscription features as the platform rapidly grows. In an effort to diversify its revenue streams, the company is developing premium add-ons accessible to users for a monthly fee.

According to a post on GitHub, Bluesky’s team is experimenting with features like advanced analytics, profile customization options, longer video uploads, and exclusive profile badges. These features are currently planned to be offered under a package called Bluesky+, priced at $8 (7.50 euros) per month or $72 (68 euros) annually. However, Bluesky has clarified that these features and prices are subject to change before their official launch.

Launched in 2019 as a research project by Twitter (now X) and spun off into an independent company in 2021, Bluesky aims to remain ad-free and avoid monetizing user data. The platform has seen remarkable growth, expanding from 9 million global users in September to over 20 million, with a 500% surge in U.S. activity in recent months.

Bluesky CEO Jay Graber has stated that subscriptions are just the first step. In an interview with Wired, she suggested that additional revenue could come from selling domain names, creating a marketplace for algorithms, and potentially introducing ads in the future.

However, similar subscription models have faced challenges on other social platforms. For instance, X (formerly Twitter) has struggled to boost revenue through paid subscriptions like X Premium. Data from Appfigures shows that since the introduction of subscriptions in 2021, the platform has generated only around $200 million in in-app purchases across iOS and Android.

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