Here’s a rephrased version of the article:
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**Elon Musk’s Festive Announcement: X Premium+ Subscription Costs Rise by Almost 40%**
Elon Musk has a seasonal surprise for X’s most loyal users: a substantial increase in the price of the platform’s highest-tier subscription service.
As indicated on a new page in X’s Help Center titled [“Premium+ Price Update”](https://help.x.com/en/premium-plus-price-update), the rate for the X Premium+ subscription in the U.S. has soared from $16 to $22 monthly. Annual subscriptions are also experiencing a sharp rise, going from $168 to $229 per year.
The price change was revealed over the weekend and officially took effect on December 21 for new subscribers.
**No Benefits for Current Subscribers**
Regrettably, for existing Premium+ subscribers, there’s no transition to the previous pricing. Current users have been informed that their plans will shift to the new $22 monthly fee following January 20. Any renewal transactions executed before that date will still adhere to the former rate.
**Worldwide Price Increases**
The price adjustments extend beyond the U.S. Subscribers in various countries are facing similar price hikes, with some regions seeing even steeper increases. For example, in Canada, the monthly charge will rise from $20 to $26, while in Australia, it will escalate from $26 to $35. In countries like Nigeria, Premium+ subscriptions will experience a drastic jump from below $5 to $22.
It’s important to mention that these rates are applicable to subscriptions acquired directly through X’s website. Users subscribing via mobile platforms or third-party app stores, such as Apple’s App Store, will incur additional fees to account for platform costs.
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### **What Is X Premium+ and Why Is It Becoming Costlier?**
X Premium+ is the platform’s highest-priced subscription level, providing features that go beyond those offered by the standard X Premium plan (previously known as Twitter Blue).
The standard X Premium plan remains priced at $8 a month, including benefits such as the verified blue checkmark, fewer ads, access to X’s AI chatbot Grok, and eligibility for the creator monetization program. For budget-minded users, X also has a Basic plan available for $3 per month, which offers features like the edit button, bookmark folders, and the capability to post longer text and videos.
In contrast, X Premium+ is promoted as the ultimate experience for power users. This tier delivers an ad-free experience—though X notes that “occasional promoted content may appear”—as well as exclusive features like the platform’s article tool, the Radar trends tool, priority customer support, and enhanced usage limits for Grok AI.
In a statement, X clarified the reason for the price increase: “Higher pricing enables us to invest more into enhancing Premium+ continuously.”
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### **The Broader Context: X’s Transition Toward Subscription Revenue**
X has also connected the price increase to its [new creator monetization framework](https://mashable.com/article/x-twitter-creator-revenue-program-x-premium-engagement-change). Previously, creator earnings in X’s monetization initiative were linked to ad views. Now, creators receive compensation based on total content views, independent of ad involvement.
This adjustment comes as X confronts a decline in ad income. Since Musk took over the platform (formerly known as Twitter) in late 2022, numerous significant advertisers have backed off, causing a marked decrease in ad-driven revenue. As a response, X has shifted toward a subscription-based revenue strategy, with Premium+ playing a crucial role in that approach.
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Although the price increase may irritate some users, Musk and X seem to be relying on the commitment of their most devoted subscribers to finance the platform’s progression. Whether this decision will yield positive results remains uncertain.