LINE starts charging users! A complete guide to 2026’s new plans, costs, and survival tips for free users

Your phone has probably been buzzing non-stop since yesterday with the news: "LINE is going to charge for its services!" Honestly, this rumour has been floating around online for nearly six months, and the company finally unveiled the complete details officially on March 17th. This isn't just a simple price hike; it's a major shift in LINE's entire business model. Today, we're here to break it all down clearly: which features will cost you, how much, and most importantly – how we, the habitual "free users," can navigate this change.

Let's get to the main point first: this move by LINE isn't a complete crackdown on free usage. Instead, they're introducing a subscription model for specific "premium features." Officially named the "LINE Premium" plan, it's currently proposed at ₹90 per month or ₹900 per year. However, there's talk of a first-year discount for long-time users or those who link a specific credit card. Here’s a quick rundown of the main features now falling under the paid tier:

• AI Stickers & Effects: Those animated, custom AI-generated stickers will soon be exclusive to Premium members.
• Message Backup & Cloud Restore: Free users will only be able to back up the last 30 days of chat history. Restoring anything older will require a paid plan.
• High-Quality Photo Transfer: Sending images in their original, uncompressed quality will become a paid feature. The free version will compress all photos by default.
• Call Noise Cancellation & Recording: LINE's built-in call recording and advanced noise cancellation features are also moving behind the paywall.

Seeing this list, many of you might be ready to vent. But let's be honest, LINE has held back a bit. Basic features like sending texts, voice calls, and video calls remain untouched. The sticker shop, a favourite among Indian users, and official account notifications also stay free. So, if you mostly use LINE for casual chats like "What's up?" or "Had lunch?", your experience remains exactly the same as yesterday.

However, for heavy users or freelancers who rely on LINE for work, this cost might be unavoidable. I know many freelancers, for instance, who are used to sharing contract drafts or design files via LINE. If photos get compressed or chat histories disappear, it could be a real problem. In that case, you need to figure out how to make the paid features work for you cost-effectively. My advice? Don't rush to subscribe. LINE is offering a one-time "feature check-up." You can find it in settings under "LINE Premium Plan." Based on your usage over the last 30 days, the system will tell you exactly which paid features would benefit you.

If you're like me and still on the fence, checking out what others are saying about the new pricing, opinions online are sharply divided. Some feel ₹90 is less than a cup of specialty coffee, a fair price for a cleaner, more feature-rich experience. Others argue that LINE already makes plenty from ads and sticker commissions, and this move feels like squeezing loyal users unnecessarily. Personally, I'm leaning towards being a "free observer" for the first three months. Since core functions aren't locked, there's no rush to subscribe until the day I genuinely need to restore an old chat backup.

Don't want to pay? Here are a few "legally free" workarounds

If you really don't want to spend money, it's not a dead end. First, you can manually back up your chat history – it's a bit of a hassle, but it's free. Secondly, when sharing photos, consider using a Google Photos or iCloud link instead. As for AI stickers... well, for now, there are other third-party apps that can generate them; it just requires a small detour. If you're determined to stick with the native LINE experience, the final tip in this guide is this: team up with friends or family for the family plan. Official announcements mention that Premium can be shared among up to six people, bringing the average cost down to just around ₹15 per person per month – practically unnoticeable.

Why is LINE daring to introduce charges now?

It's pretty clear to any observer that LINE's parent company, LY Corporation, is under financial pressure. Coupled with a saturated and maturing market, they need to extract more value from their existing user base. This move isn't so much a cash grab as it is a test balloon, gauging user acceptance of paid features for a messaging app in India. If the response is positive, it's not unthinkable that basic messaging functions could be phased into paid tiers later on. So, this "LINE Premium" isn't just a new plan; it's a signpost for the future of the LINE ecosystem over the next decade.

In short, after March 17th, LINE has officially bid adieu to the "completely free era." Whether you choose to upgrade with it or continue being a savvy free user is entirely your call. At least for now, as long as your messages go through and you can reach people, that's enough.