Elon Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has significantly reduced its premium subscription prices in India, offering substantial cuts across all three paid tiers: Basic, Premium, and Premium+. This marks the first major revision since X introduced paid plans in the country in February 2023, and it is seen as a strategic push to tap into India’s vast internet user base.
New Subscription Pricing (Web vs Mobile)
Here’s a breakdown of the revised pricing structure across tiers:
| Tier | Platform | New Price (₹/month) | Old Price (₹/month) | % Reduction |
| Basic | Web & Mobile | ₹170 | ₹244 | ~30% |
| Annual | ₹1,700 | ₹2,591 | ~34% | |
| Premium | Web | ₹427 | ₹650 | ~34% |
| Mobile | ₹470 | ₹900 | ~48% | |
| Premium+ | Web | ₹2,570 | ₹3,470 | ~26% |
| Mobile | ₹3,000 | ₹5,100 | ~41% |
Mobile subscription prices remain higher due to platform fees from Apple and Google, but the pricing gap has narrowed with this update.
What You Get at Each Tier
Basic (₹170/month)
- Ability to edit posts within a limited time
- Longer text and video uploads
- Priority in replies and searches
- Basic formatting tools and background playback
Premium (₹427–470/month)
- All Basic features
- Verified blue checkmark
- Access to creator monetization tools
- X Pro features including Media Studio and analytics
- Reduced ad exposure
- Access to Grok, X’s AI chatbot assistant
Premium+ (₹2,570–3,000/month)
- Ad-free experience
- Maximum visibility and reply boosts
- Ability to publish long-form articles
- Real-time trending insights via “Radar”
- Access to SuperGrok powered by Grok 4 AI model
Premium+ is especially geared toward professionals, writers, and digital creators who want maximum reach and advanced content tools.
Strategic Reasons Behind the Price Cut
- Capturing the Indian Market
India is home to the second-largest internet user base globally. The new affordable pricing is designed to attract a wide user segment, including students, creators, influencers, and entrepreneurs who may have hesitated at the previous price point. - Subscription-Based Revenue Shift
With declining advertising revenue, X is pivoting toward a subscription-led model. Lowering prices in price-sensitive regions like India can help boost paid user acquisition and increase recurring revenue. - Competitive Edge Ahead of Starlink’s Launch
The timing of this price cut aligns closely with reports suggesting an imminent launch of Musk’s satellite internet venture, Starlink, in India. By strengthening X’s digital presence now, the company is likely laying the groundwork for ecosystem integration between its services. - Showcasing Grok 4 and AI Integration
The recent launch of Grok 4, X’s advanced AI model developed by Musk’s xAI, adds value to Premium and Premium+ tiers. By bundling AI-powered features into subscriptions, the platform is evolving from a traditional social network into a tech-driven, AI-enhanced ecosystem.
Broader Implications
- Greater Value for Users: Even the Basic plan now offers features that were earlier limited to higher tiers, enhancing the value proposition.
- Growth in Creator Economy: With more affordable access to monetization tools and publishing features, small creators and independent journalists may now leverage X to build their brand.
- AI Feature Accessibility: More users will now have the opportunity to interact with Grok and its functionalities, potentially increasing AI literacy and usage across diverse audiences.
- Pressure on Competitors: This strategic pricing may force platforms like Meta, Threads, or local startups to reevaluate their monetization models and offerings.
Final Take
Elon Musk’s price cut for X subscriptions in India isn’t just a pricing adjustment—it’s a calculated move to drive digital adoption, subscription revenue, and AI usage in one of the world’s fastest-growing internet markets. With plans starting at just ₹170, X is democratizing access to powerful tools that blend social media, AI interaction, and content creation under one roof.
For digital creators, marketers, and everyday users, this presents a golden opportunity to explore the full potential of the X ecosystem at a fraction of the original cost. With India becoming a focus market, Musk is clearly betting big on the future of tech-enabled communication—and this price cut is just the beginning.
Photo Credit: Financial Express
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