Is LINE about to start charging? Your complete guide to the 2026 plans, costs & how to survive as a free user

Your social feeds have probably been blowing up since yesterday with the news that LINE is finally rolling out paid plans. The rumour's been doing the rounds for nearly six months, and on March 17th, the company officially laid out the full details. This isn't just a simple price hike; it's a major shift in LINE's entire business model. So, let's cut through the noise and get straight to what this actually means for you—which features are affected, how much it'll cost, and most importantly, how us Kiwis who are used to getting things for free can handle it.

First things first: this isn't a total lockdown of the app. The new charges apply to a subscription tier for specific "premium features." Officially dubbed "LINE Premium," the plan is currently priced at NZD $3.50 per month or $35 for an annual subscription. Word is there might be an introductory offer for the first year if you're an existing user or link a specific credit card. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s moving behind the paywall:

• AI Stickers & Effects: Those custom, animated AI-generated stickers will soon be exclusive to Premium members.
• Message Backups & Cloud Restore: Free users will only be able to access chats from the last 30 days. Anything older than that and you'll need to subscribe to restore them fully.
• HD Photo Transfer: Sending images in their original, high-quality resolution becomes a paid perk. Free accounts will have photos compressed automatically.
• Call Noise Cancellation & Recording: LINE's built-in call recording and advanced noise cancellation features are also heading behind the paywall.

Seeing that list, it's tempting to fire up. But hold on a sec—LINE has actually held back a bit. The basics like sending texts, making standard voice and video calls, and using the sticker shop (where we Kiwi love to spend) remain untouched. Official account notifications are also staying free. So, if you're just using LINE to ask mates "what's the go?" or send a quick "good night," your experience is exactly the same as it was yesterday.

However, for power users or freelancers who rely on LINE for work, this might be unavoidable. I know heaps of contractors and creatives who use LINE to send draft contracts or design files. If photos get compressed or crucial chat histories vanish, it would be a nightmare. If you fall into that camp, you need to figure out the smartest way to approach LINE Premium. My advice? Don't rush to subscribe just yet. There's a one-time "feature check" option in your settings under "LINE Premium." The system analyses your usage over the last 30 days and tells you exactly which paid features you'd actually benefit from.

If you're like me and still on the fence, wanting to see what the general verdict on LINE Premium is, online opinions are pretty polarised right now. Some reckon the monthly cost is less than a flat white, making it a no-brainer for a cleaner, more functional experience. Others argue LINE already makes a motza from ads and sticker commissions, so charging loyal users now feels like a money grab. Personally, I'm planning to stay in "free user observer" mode for the first few months. They haven't locked down the core functions, so I can always sign up later when I genuinely need to dig up an old conversation.

Keen to avoid paying? Here are a few legit ways to stay free

If you're really not keen on forking out, you're not completely out of options. First, you can manually back up your chat history. It's a bit of a hassle, but it costs nothing. Secondly, instead of sending photos directly, share a link from Google Photos or iCloud. As for those AI stickers… well, there are other third-party apps that can generate similar ones for now—you just have to take a slightly longer route. If you're set on keeping everything within the LINE ecosystem, the final tip from this guide is to rally your mates and whānau and chip in on a family plan. Official announcements mention Premium can be shared among up to six people, which would bring the cost down to around 60 cents per person per month—basically spare change.

Why is LINE pulling the trigger on charges now?

It's pretty clear to anyone watching that LINE's parent company, LY Corporation, is under a bit of financial pressure. Add to that a saturated market in places like Taiwan, and they need to squeeze more value out of their existing user base. This move feels less like a desperate cash grab and more like testing the waters to see how receptive users are to paying for a messaging app. If the response is positive, who's to say basic messaging functions won't be tiered down the track? So, think of "LINE Premium" not just as a new plan, but as a litmus test for the future of the LINE ecosystem over the next decade.

So, as of March 17th, we've officially waved goodbye to the "totally free" era of LINE. Whether you decide to upgrade or keep being a savvy free user is entirely up to you. At the end of the day, as long as your messages get through and you can stay connected, that's what really counts.