The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Yes—but the 37.5% increase is a December 2024 event, not a new August 18, 2026 price change. X raised the U.S. Premium+ monthly price from $16 to $22 on December 21, 2024. That is a $6 increase, or exactly 37.5%. The annual price rose from $168 to $229, an increase of about 36.3%. X later listed a further U.S. Premium+ price of $40 per month, effective February 18, 2025, so $22 should not be treated as the latest documented U.S. price.
What changed in X Premium+ pricing?
The December 2024 adjustment changed the U.S. web prices as follows, according to TechCrunch’s December 22, 2024 report:
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Visa Physical Gift Card $200 (plus $6.95 Purchase Fee) | $206.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
$300 Apple Gift Card—Email Delivery | $300.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
DoorDash eGift Card | $75.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
$25 Apple Gift Card—Email Delivery | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Visa Physical Gift Card $100 (plus $5.95 Purchase Fee) | $105.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| U.S. plan | Before | After | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $16 | $22 | $6; 37.5% |
| Annual | $168 | $229 | $61; approximately 36.3% |
The 37.5% figure applies to the monthly plan only. Applying it to the annual plan would be inaccurate because the annual increase was slightly smaller in percentage terms.
Was the increase the same worldwide?
No. The December 2024 increase varied substantially by market. The following figures were reported for that adjustment and are not necessarily the prices available at every checkout today:
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- Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- To report your Lost or Stolen Physical Visa Card, call Customer Service 24/7 at 1 (888) 524-1283 to cancel your Gift Card as soon as you can. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Visa Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, including online.
| Market | Before | After | Approximate increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States, monthly | $16 | $22 | 37.5% |
| European Union, monthly | €16 | €21 | 31.25% |
| Canada, monthly | $20 | $29 | 45% |
| Nigeria, monthly | ₦7,300 | ₦34,000 | Approximately 365.8% |
| Turkey, monthly | ₺300 | ₺770 | Approximately 156.7% |
Country, taxes, web-versus-app billing, currency policy and payment-processor fees can all affect the amount a subscriber sees. X says prices may vary for those reasons on its Premium+ price-update page.
What did Premium+ provide?
At the time of the December report, Premium+ was X’s highest subscription tier. It was described as including an ad-free experience, higher visibility or reply-ranking benefits, longer-form posting and other premium capabilities in X’s subscription system.
Rank #2
- For all things Apple - products, accessories, apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, iCloud+, and more.
- Perfect for App Store purchases and subscriptions—get apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, and more.
- The perfect gift to say happy birthday, thank you, congratulations, and more.
- Available in $15 - 500, Card delivered via email or SMS
- Use it for purchases at any Apple Store location, on the Apple Store app, apple.com, the App Store, iTunes, Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple News+, Apple Books, Apple Arcade, iCloud+, Fitness+, Apple One, and other Apple properties in US only
X’s later February 2025 notice emphasized a somewhat different feature set: expanded access to Grok 3, higher usage limits, early access to new features, completely ad-free use and support for its creator-revenue-sharing model. Features, limits and model access can change independently of the subscription price, so these descriptions should be read as dated product claims rather than permanent guarantees.
Why did X say it raised the price?
X described the December change as a pricing adjustment intended to support the Premium+ experience. In its February 2025 notice, the company gave more specific reasons: broader Grok 3 access, higher limits and early feature access, an entirely ad-free experience, and support for creator revenue sharing. Those are X’s stated reasons; the available announcements do not establish how much of the increase went to AI costs, creator payments, advertising conditions or subscriber economics.
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Rank #3
- Get thousands of restaurants, convenience stores, pet stores, grocery stores, gifts, and more at your fingertips.
- Easy ordering, order customizations, and real-time tracking
- Pickup, group order, and scheduled delivery options available
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
What happened to existing subscribers?
December 2024 adjustment
For the December 2024 increase, TechCrunch reported that existing subscribers were grandfathered at their current rates until January 20, 2025. That timetable belongs to that specific adjustment.
February 2025 adjustment
X later published a separate rule for the adjustment effective February 18, 2025. The company said existing subscribers whose next billing cycle began before March 22, 2025 would be charged at the then-current rate, with the new rate applying on the first billing cycle after that date. The January 20 and March 22 dates should not be merged into one continuous protection period; they describe different price changes.
Rank #4
- For all things Apple - products, accessories, apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, iCloud+, and more.
- Perfect for App Store purchases and subscriptions—get apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, and more.
- The perfect gift to say happy birthday, thank you, congratulations, and more.
- Available in $15 - 500, Card delivered via email or SMS
- Use it for purchases at any Apple Store location, on the Apple Store app, apple.com, the App Store, iTunes, Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple News+, Apple Books, Apple Arcade, iCloud+, Fitness+, Apple One, and other Apple properties in US only
X later listed Premium+ at $40 per month
X’s official February 2025 page lists these U.S. web prices:
| Tier | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $3 | $32 |
| Premium | $8 | $84 |
| Premium+ | $40 | $395 |
These are the prices shown in X’s notice for the February 18, 2025 adjustment, not a guarantee of the live August 2026 checkout price in every country or on every platform. Check the official X subscription page before subscribing; taxes, location and payment method can change the final amount.
Best Value
- Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- To report your Lost or Stolen Physical Visa Card, call Customer Service 24/7 at 1 (888) 524-1283 to cancel your Gift Card as soon as you can. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Visa Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, including online.
The $40 monthly price is 13.3 times the listed $3 Basic price and five times the listed $8 Premium price. The annual Premium+ price of $395 is lower than twelve $40 payments ($480), but annual billing requires a larger upfront commitment and the feature set may change during the term.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Was this X’s biggest price increase?
TechCrunch characterized the December 2024 increase as the largest price increase since Elon Musk acquired the platform in 2022. That is the publication’s characterization, not an independently audited company-wide record.
Quick Recap
Is Premium+ worth the higher cost?
It may suit these users
- Heavy X users who place a high value on an ad-free feed.
- People who regularly use Grok and need higher usage limits or early access to features.
- Creators who publish long-form material on X and want the additional publishing and visibility tools.
- Users who treat X as a primary information or publishing service and can justify the recurring cost.
It may be poor value for these users
- Casual users who open X only occasionally.
- People mainly seeking a verification badge.
- Users who do not use Grok, long-form posting or other Premium+ tools.
- Anyone comfortable with advertisements and unwilling to pay for convenience.
- Creators expecting a subscription to guarantee reach, engagement or income.
- Subscribers in markets where the local increase was far larger than the U.S. increase.
Questions to ask before subscribing
- Check the actual price shown for your country, platform and payment method.
- Decide whether ad-free use and current Grok limits are worth the difference between Premium+ and the lower tiers.
- Compare the annual total with twelve monthly payments, remembering that annual billing reduces flexibility.
- Review the current feature list and cancellation terms because X can change limits, models and benefits without changing the historical price story.
Timeline of the documented changes
- December 21, 2024: The U.S. monthly price moved from $16 to $22.
- December 22, 2024: TechCrunch published its report on the increase.
- January 20, 2025: The reported end of the initial grandfathering period for the December adjustment.
- February 18, 2025: X’s official notice said its next Premium+ price update began for new subscribers.
- March 22, 2025: X’s later cutoff for applying the February adjustment to existing subscribers’ billing cycles.
- August 18, 2026: The 37.5% figure remains a historical December 2024 comparison, not a same-day price announcement.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
