Bluesky explores a paid subscription model

Bluesky is working on a subscription model to monetize its platform. According to mockups shared on the company’s GitHub, the premium plan, Bluesky+, could cost $8 per month or $72 annually. 

The proposed features include longer video uploads, customizable app icons, profile badges, and enhanced profile personalization tools like avatar frames and color themes.

The decentralized social network first hinted at subscription plans in October during its Series A funding announcement, where it raised $15 million. “We will begin developing a subscription model.”

It also said paid subscriptions wouldn’t impact user experience. It “will always be free to use.” “Paid subscribers won’t get special treatment elsewhere in the app, like upranking premium accounts or blue checks next to their names.”

Features under consideration

While the list of features is not finalized, the GitHub mockup hints at longer video uploads like higher quality and larger video file limits, profile customization such as color themes, badges, and other personalization options, advanced analytics and tools, and custom app icons for paid users.

Bluesky’s Software Engineer, Dan Abramov has clarified that these features are part of a user interface prototype and may not make it to the final product. “Some of these are likely to make it, but please don’t take this as an actual list of planned features,” Abramov noted.

Bluesky’s growth and ad-free model

The platform has grown significantly, boasting over 20 million users since the U.S. Presidential elections. Bluesky claims it’s outperforming competitors like X and Threads in driving publisher engagement. Despite this growth, the app says it will continue to focus on developing user-friendly features and will not introduce ads to the platform yet. 

While the company has not ruled out ads in the future, it remains focused on subscription offerings for now. Bluesky Chief Operating Officer, Rose Wang emphasized the importance of diversifying revenue without relying on traditional advertising models. “Subscription revenue helps us improve the app, grow the developer ecosystem, and gives us time to explore business models beyond traditional ads,” Wang explained. 

Jay Graber, CEO of the platform said Bluesky will consider and explore alternative revenue streams such as selling domain names and launching an algorithm marketplace.

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