Bluesky is working on a premium subscription that will add features like higher-quality video uploads and some profile customization options. Unlike the premium subscription offered by X, however, Bluesky’s paid tier won’t boost the visibility of your posts, nor will it give your account a “verified” status. Bluesky, in a post on its blog, also notes that Bluesky “will always be free to use.”
“Subscription revenue helps us improve the app, grow the developer ecosystem, and gives us time to explore business models beyond traditional ads,” Bluesky chief operating officer Rose Wang wrote in a post. “Paid subscribers won’t get special treatment elsewhere in the app, like upranking premium accounts or blue checks next to their names.”
Bluesky also announced that it has 13 million users and raised a new round of $15 million in funding. The platform has seen steady growth over the past year, as it crossed just 2 million users last November. Bluesky added many more users in the weeks following Brazil’s ban on X (which is now lifted) and in the wake of the changes X is making to its block feature. As Bluesky attempts to draw in more users looking for an X alternative, it has also been targeting frustrated Threads users.