On the GitHub developer platform, the Bluesky team is already experimenting with new features with paid access. What is included in the Bluesky+ subscription and how much does it cost?
On the GitHub developer platform, the Bluesky team is already experimenting with new features with paid access. What is included in the Bluesky+ subscription and how much does it cost?
According to Euronews, additional features will include a special Bluesky profile icon, analytics, longer video uploads and profile customization. However, Bluesky says this is «only a mockup of the user interface» and the paid features may change before launch.
Bluesky+ additional features will cost $8 (€7.50) per month or $72 per year (€68), but this price is also subject to change.
Bluesky began operations in 2019 as a research initiative of the Twitter platform, which Elon Musk renamed X. In 2021, it became an independent company.
The platform’s user base has grown significantly over the past few months, with usage in the United States increasing by more than 500%. Bluesky recently surpassed 20 million users worldwide, up from 9 million in September alone.
This was also helped by Elon Musk’s dispute with Brazilian authorities, which led to Brazil blocking access to X in their country. After that, Bluesky, which competes with platform X (Twitter), reported the appearance of 1 million new users in 3 days.
Bluesky+ profile badges, if launched, will have «nothing to do with verification» and will not function as Twitter’s paid ticks, according to PcMag. Unlike Elon Musk’s X (Twitter), content from Bluesky+ users will not be prioritized.
While Bluesky sees subscriptions as a potential source of revenue, CEO Jay Graber hinted at other monetization ideas, such as advertising, an algorithm marketplace, or selling nicknames/domains. Bluesky sees domain name sales as a way to separate famous people and organizations from their parodies.
In March, Bluesky announced that it was opening access to its Ozone tool, which allows developers and users to create moderation services.
