X Subscriptions let you pay a creator a monthly fee for bonus content on X: subscriber-only posts, Spaces and replies, plus a subscriber badge. The creator picks the monthly price from set price points, and X says it doesn't take a revenue share; the only deductions are payment processing or app store fees, cancellations and refunds.
There are two sides to it. If you follow someone you love, it's a way to support them and get more. If you're a creator or a business with a loyal audience, it's a way to earn recurring income directly from your most engaged followers.
What subscribers get
X's help page lists the benefits creators can offer. Each creator decides exactly what bonus content they share, but the features available are:
| Benefit | How it works |
|---|---|
| Exclusive posts | Subscriber-only posts appear in your Home timeline alongside the creator's regular posts |
| Post notifications | On iOS and Android you can be notified when new subscriber posts go up |
| Subscriber-only Spaces | Live audio conversations for subscribers; you join as a listener and can request to speak |
| Subscriber-only replies | Creators can limit replies on public posts to subscribers |
| Subscriber badge | A badge next to your name when you reply; you can hide it on public replies in the app |
| Subscriptions tab | All of a creator's subscriber posts in one place on their profile |
| Direct messages | Creators can allow messages from subscribers, but it's off by default |
Subscriber posts and the replies to them are only visible to other subscribers. If a subscriber quotes or reposts one, non-subscribers see a preview only.
How to subscribe to someone
- Go to the profile of the person you want to support.
- If they offer Subscriptions, tap Subscribe in the top right of their profile. If you don't follow them yet, you'll see a preview of their bonus content and the price.
- Tap Subscribe again to accept the terms and complete the purchase.
You can also subscribe from a link the creator shares, or from the button on a subscriber-only post preview in your timeline.
What it costs and who gets paid
The creator sets the monthly price by choosing from X's preset price points, so there's no single answer to what a subscription costs. X says it doesn't take a revenue share. What comes off the price is third-party payment processing or app store fees, plus any cancellations or refunds.
A few practical details from X's help page:
- There are no free trials of Subscriptions at the moment.
- You can buy on iOS, Android and web, and Subscriptions are available to buy globally.
- On the web, payment goes through X's payment partner, Stripe.
- You cancel the same way you subscribed: through the app store you used, or through X on the web.
- Only one of your X accounts can subscribe to a given creator, and each Apple ID, Google account or web purchase is limited to one purchase of that subscription.
What the creator sees about you
Subscriptions are bought from X, not directly from the creator. X receives a receipt with some purchase details, including the last four digits of your card. The creator doesn't see your payment details or card information. They can always see who their subscribers are, though, even if you hide your badge on public replies.
If you're a creator or a business
X says creators globally who meet its eligibility requirements can apply to join the Subscriptions programme, and Creator Subscriptions are available in a long list of territories, including the UK, the US, Ireland, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and the Philippines. X's creator FAQ covers eligibility, the application, payouts, refunds, chargebacks and US tax forms.
Before you apply, ask yourself what you'd post for subscribers every week. People pay for something they can't get from your public feed: behind-the-scenes updates, early access, a monthly live Space, or quick answers to their questions. If you can't list four things, you're not ready yet.
Subscriptions are one way to earn on X. If your audience is still small, my guide to the niches that grow fastest on X is a better first step. And keep an eye on your X analytics to see which posts your most engaged followers respond to; those are your best subscriber content ideas.
Subscriptions are not the same as X Premium
The names cause plenty of confusion, so here's the difference in one line each:
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- Subscriptions are paid to a specific creator, monthly, for that person's bonus content.
- X Premium is X's own paid plan for your account. X's ads help pages refer to the Plus, Premium, Super and Ultra plans on The X Subscription, and a Premium plan is one of the ways an individual becomes eligible to run ads.
You can have one without the other. Paying for Premium doesn't give you access to anyone's subscriber content, and subscribing to a creator doesn't change your own account's features.
What happens if you don't subscribe
Nothing changes for you. X says Subscriptions are optional, and you'll keep seeing a creator's regular posts as long as you follow them. You'll just see previews, not the full posts, for their subscriber-only content.
The platform has a financial side too, and my page on X's financial app explains who can use it.
My verdict
For fans, X Subscriptions are a simple way to support creators and get closer to them, with good privacy since creators never see your card details. For creators and small businesses, the deal is unusually generous because X says it takes no revenue share, but it only works if you have a loyal core audience and a steady plan for bonus content. Start with one clear promise to subscribers, keep it every week, and look at who stays after the first few months before you add more perks.
Long-form posts are a natural fit for subscribers, and my guide to X Articles explains the format.
Frequently asked questions
How much do X Subscriptions cost?
Each creator sets their own monthly price by choosing from X's preset price points, so the cost depends on the creator you subscribe to.
Does X take a cut of Subscriptions?
X says it doesn't take a revenue share. Deductions come from third-party payment processing or app store fees, plus cancellations and refunds.
Can I try X Subscriptions for free?
No. X says it isn't offering free trials of Subscriptions at this time.
Can a creator see my payment details?
No. X says the person you subscribe to won't see your payment details or credit card information. X receives the purchase receipt.
