X Doubles Premium+ Subscription Price Following Grok-3 AI Release

X Doubles Premium+ Subscription Price Amid Grok-3 AI Launch

X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has dramatically increased the price of its Premium+ subscription plan following the release of xAI's latest AI model, Grok-3. This move has sparked discussions about AI accessibility and pricing strategies in the tech industry.

Significant Price Hike

The Premium+ subscription, which previously cost $22 per month, has seen its price nearly double to $40 per month in the United States 1

1

2

2

. Similar increases have been observed in other markets, with the UK price rising from £17 to £35, and European prices jumping from €21 to €38 5

5

.

However, there appears to be some confusion regarding the exact pricing. X's support page lists the monthly subscription at $50, while the sign-up page shows $48.40, and the checkout page charges $40 2

2

4

4

. This inconsistency has led to speculation about the company's internal organization and pricing strategy.

Grok-3 AI and Feature Access

The price increase coincides with the launch of Grok-3, the latest AI model from Elon Musk's xAI company. Premium+ subscribers now have access to some of Grok-3's features, including "deep search" and "reasoning" capabilities 2

2

. However, full access to all Grok-3 features will require a separate SuperGrok subscription, which is expected to cost between $40 and $50 per month 1

1

3

3

.

New AI Capabilities

Grok-3 introduces several advanced features, most notably DeepSearch, which is similar to the Deep Research function offered by competitors like Google Gemini and OpenAI. This feature allows the AI to act as an assistant for searching, sorting, and compiling comprehensive reports with citations 3

3

.

Competitive Landscape

The price hike positions X's AI offering as one of the most expensive in the market. For comparison:

• OpenAI's ChatGPT Plus: $20/month
• Google's Gemini Advanced: $20/month
• Perplexity's premium subscription: Starting at $20/month 3

  3

Despite the higher price point, xAI claims that Grok-3 outperforms AI models from OpenAI, Google, Claude, and DeepSeek in benchmark tests 3

3

.

Additional Benefits

While the price increase is substantial, X's Premium+ subscription offers more than just AI features. Subscribers also receive:

• Blue verified checkmark
• Creator earnings and revenue sharing
• Longer posts and higher video upload limits
• Ad-free experience 3

  3

  5

  5

Industry Implications

This pricing strategy raises questions about the accessibility of advanced AI technologies and the sustainability of current AI business models. As companies invest heavily in AI development, they are exploring ways to monetize these technologies effectively while balancing user access and profitability.

The move by X could potentially influence pricing strategies across the AI industry, as competitors watch closely to see how users respond to the increased subscription costs for AI-enhanced services.