The Meta AI Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Meta AI in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Meta AI
The Insider’s Guide
Meta's free AI assistant across its apps, the web and AI glasses
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI assistants, read from Meta AI’s own pages.
Made by Meta · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05After you payGetting your money back, getting out, and getting help
- 06The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 07Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 08About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Meta AI’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Meta AI’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 30 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade
Meta AI is Meta's assistant for answering questions, creating and editing images, researching topics and handling tasks such as daily briefings and reminders. It runs in the Meta AI app, at meta.ai, and inside WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, Facebook and Meta's AI glasses. Meta AI itself is free; the optional Meta One Core and Premium subscriptions add more AI usage for image and video generation.
To get you started, here are 10 things to know about Meta AI, taken from its own pages and our grades.
If you use WhatsApp or Instagram it's already there, so there's nothing new to learn.
- 1
Best for a free assistant inside WhatsApp and Instagram
Meta AI sits inside WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram and Facebook, plus its own app and the web, and it's free: chat by voice, images, research reports and daily briefings.
- 2
Paid plans start at $7.99 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $7.99 per month (Meta One Core).
- 3
There is a free plan
Meta AI is free for everyone. Meta One plans add more monthly AI usage for features such as image and video generation; Meta does not publish the size of the free allowance.
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
Web, iOS and Android.
- 5
Chat by text or voice
Voice conversations are supported in 13 languages, and live AI answers questions about what your camera sees in real time.
- 6
Image creation and editing
Creates images from a prompt, with presets based on trending styles, and edits photos when you sketch on them or describe the change you want.
- 7
Research reports
Searches across sources and returns a structured, detailed research report on a topic in minutes.
- 8
Refunds: no set window
Meta AI itself costs nothing, so most people have nothing at stake here. If you do pay for a Meta One plan, Meta says plainly that cancelling brings no credit and no refund unless the law demands one.
- 9
A 2.8 GPA, above 30 of 57
That is against the other AI assistants we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 10
Keep it
To replace Meta AI you would be making an AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Meta AI at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $7.99 per month (Meta One Core)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Meta, since 2023
- Category
- AI Assistants
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
- Store rating
- 4.7 on the App Store, 266,274 ratings
The report card
Best for a free assistant inside WhatsApp and Instagram
Meta AI sits inside WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram and Facebook, plus its own app and the web, and it's free: chat by voice, images, research reports and daily briefings. Meta doesn't publish how much free use you get or how much more the $7.99 Meta One Core plan adds, some features are only in select countries and languages, and there's no desktop app.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | Meta One Core is $7.99 a month, inside this category's cheapest quarter, and it comes bundled with Instagram Plus, WhatsApp Plus and Facebook Plus. What it adds to Meta AI is more image, video and voice usage, with no numbers given. Premium is $19.99. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Meta AI is free for everyone, in its own app, at meta.ai and inside WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram and Facebook. Meta doesn't publish the size of the free allowance, only that paid plans include more. No A without the numbers. |
| Features | C | Chat by text or voice, live AI that sees through your camera, image creation and editing, research reports, file reading and daily briefings. The basics, with the gaps Meta's own pages show: no numbers on any limit, and features only in select countries and languages. |
| Ease of use | B | 4.69 from about 266,300 App Store ratings, a hair under our line for an A. If you use WhatsApp or Instagram it's already there, so there's nothing new to learn. Buying Meta One is done inside the mobile apps, not on the website. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Its own iPhone and Android app, the web at meta.ai, and built into WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram and Facebook, plus Meta's AI glasses. No desktop app, though, and some features are only in select countries and languages. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Meta AI is for
- Fits if you already spend your day in WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger or Facebook
- Works for owners of Meta's AI glasses, which use the app as their companion
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you want to know your limits, as Meta doesn't publish the free allowance or what Core adds
- Skip it if you'd rather keep AI out of your chats and feeds, since it's built into Meta's apps
- Tight if you're outside its main markets, because some features are only in select countries and languages
- Watch out: Meta One is bought inside Meta's mobile apps, and plans and prices vary by region and account
- Skip it if you want a desktop app, as it's web, iPhone and Android only
Good to know
Good for
- People who already use WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger or Facebook
- Everyday questions and image creation without a subscription
- Owners of Meta's AI glasses, which use the app as their companion
Worth knowing
- Meta One is bought inside Meta's mobile apps; the plans page says to subscribe using your mobile app.
- Meta says plans, benefits, pricing and availability may vary by region, app and account.
- Certain Meta AI features are only available in select countries and languages, according to the app listings.
- The size of the free allowance is not published; Meta says only that paid plans include more monthly AI usage.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$7.99
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Meta AI has a free plan. Paid plans start at $7.99 per month (Meta One Core).
What it adds to Meta AI is more image, video and voice usage, with no numbers given.
Free
$0
Meta AI in the app, at meta.ai and inside WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram and Facebook.
Meta One Core
$7.99
per month
More AI usage for generating and editing images, creating videos and voice effects, bundled with Instagram Plus, WhatsApp Plus and Facebook Plus.
Meta One Premium
$19.99
per month
Everything in Core with expanded AI usage and more video creation.
The free plan
Meta AI is free for everyone. Meta One plans add more monthly AI usage for features such as image and video generation; Meta does not publish the size of the free allowance.
Read from meta.com on Oct 5, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: Web, iOS and Android
Meta's free AI assistant across its apps, the web and AI glasses. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, chat assistant, AI search, research.
The basics, with the gaps Meta's own pages show: no numbers on any limit, and features only in select countries and languages.
- Chat by text or voice
- Voice conversations are supported in 13 languages, and live AI answers questions about what your camera sees in real time.
- Image creation and editing
- Creates images from a prompt, with presets based on trending styles, and edits photos when you sketch on them or describe the change you want.
- Research reports
- Searches across sources and returns a structured, detailed research report on a topic in minutes.
- Tasks and briefings
- Takes on ongoing jobs such as daily briefings and reminders, keeping up with email and calendar, shopping lists and workout plans.
- File and photo analysis
- Upload documents, PDFs or spreadsheets for summaries, comparisons or analysis, or take a photo for help. Several files can be sent together.
- Incognito Chat
- Starts a private, temporary conversation with Meta AI that only you can see.
Where it runs
- Web
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Messenger
- Google Workspace
- Meta Ads Manager
Meta AI is made by Meta, and has been around since 2023.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
30/57
Other AI assistants it is graded above
Meta AI's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 30 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on value for money (B, above 34 of 57) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $7.99 a month, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 9 of the 38 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 5 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 58 AI assistants we grade, cut by the letter each got. Meta AI’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 34 of 57
- BFree plan and trialAbove 34 of 57
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 57
- BEase of useAbove 21 of 57
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 23 of 57
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 45 AI assistants. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Meta AI is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Meta AI you would be making an AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $95.88 a year.
What you could not
- An AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make.
- A search engine with an AI model behind it.
- A library of papers and sources to search.
- A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It plugs into other products, WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram among them.
What this rests on. Meta AI’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Refunds
After you pay
Getting your money back, getting out, and getting help
What happens once you have paid: whether you can get your money back, how to leave, and how to reach a person when something goes wrong. Each is graded from Meta AI’s own terms and help pages.
Refunds and cancelling
Ordinary · checked Oct 18, 2026
Meta AI itself costs nothing, so most people have nothing at stake here. If you do pay for a Meta One plan, Meta says plainly that cancelling brings no credit and no refund unless the law demands one. You can stop it whenever you like from inside the app, and the benefits run to the end of the month you paid for. The money is handled by Apple or Google, so they, not Meta, decide any refund. That is a C.
- Refund window
- No set window
- How you cancel
- Yourself, in settings
- Getting your money back
Meta's article on cancelling says that if you cancel you will not receive a credit or a refund, unless required by law. Because a Meta One plan is billed through the Apple App Store or Google Play, any refund request goes to whichever store took the payment, under that store's rules. None of Meta's pages read names a refund window of its own.
Stated on meta.com- How to cancel Meta AI
You can cancel inside the Meta AI app: Menu, then Settings, then Accounts Centre, then Subscriptions, then Meta One, then Cancel subscription at the bottom. The Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp apps have the same route. You can also cancel in the App Store or Google Play account settings, and Meta says to use the same platform and store account you subscribed with or you may not see the subscription at all.
- Open the Meta AI mobile app and log in
- Tap Menu in the top left
- Tap Settings in the bottom left
- Tap Accounts Centre
- Tap Subscriptions, then tap Meta One
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Cancel subscription
- Follow the prompts, then tap Complete cancellation
- What you keep afterwards
The subscription stays active until the current billing cycle ends, and at that point all the plan's benefits go. Meta AI itself remains free to use. A separate article says you can ask Accounts Centre for an export of your Meta AI information, including chats and generated images and videos, in machine-readable HTML or JSON.
Stated on meta.com- Renewals
A Meta One plan renews automatically each month unless cancelled, charged on the same date as the original purchase, or the last day of a shorter month. If you joined on a promotion and do not cancel before it ends, the plan renews at the monthly fee. Cancel before the current cycle ends to avoid the next charge. No reminder before a renewal is mentioned.
Stated on meta.com
In your favour
- Meta AI is free to use, so nobody has to buy anything to get the assistant.
- You cancel in the app itself, in seven taps, and the steps are written out for each Meta app.
- The benefits you paid for last to the end of the billing cycle, not to the moment you cancel.
- You can export your Meta AI chats and generated media from Accounts Centre before you go.
Watch out for
- Cancel and you get no credit and no refund, unless the law where you live says otherwise.
- Billing runs through Apple or Google, so a refund is their decision and not Meta's.
- Cancel from the same store account you subscribed with, or you may not even see the subscription.
- A promotional price rolls into the full monthly fee by itself if you do not cancel first.
Customer support
Weak · checked Oct 18, 2026
There is nobody to talk to. Meta AI has a sizeable help centre and a form in the app for reporting that something is broken, and that is the lot: no email, no ticket you can follow, no chat with a person, no phone. Paying for a personal Meta One plan buys more AI usage, not a way in. Articles and a bug report, with no human behind them for ordinary customers, is a D.
Ways to get help
Help inside the app
Help and support inside the Meta AI app, where Submit a report sends a description of what is broken, with screenshots and optional diagnostics. Meta says to watch your notifications for updates, and promises no reply.
Stated on meta.comHelp centre
The Meta AI and Vibes Help Centre, with articles on chatting with the assistant, generating and editing images and videos, profiles and accounts, data and settings, and reporting. Open to anyone without signing in.
Stated on meta.com
Not listed on Meta AI’s pages: live chat, phone, email, contact form or ticket.
- When people answer
Its pages do not say.
- How fast it says it replies
Its pages do not say.
- What depends on your plan
The personal Meta One plans are described in terms of extra AI usage and app features, with no support benefit listed. Meta's business and creator plans do list a monthly chat with a human agent as a paid benefit, which the personal plans do not get. Billing questions belong to the app store that took the payment.
Stated on meta.com
In your favour
- The help centre is broad and free to read, with articles on data, exports and reporting.
Watch out for
- No email, no ticket, no chat and no phone for Meta AI. The only route is a bug report.
- Paying for a personal plan does not buy a way to reach a person.
- Nothing is published about when anyone looks at a report or how long a reply might take.
- Billing problems go to Apple or Google, so Meta is not the one you would be chasing.
What these two grades rest on. Read on 18 October 2026: Meta's help articles on Meta One plans, on the Core plan, on billing and payments for subscriptions from Meta and on cancelling a Meta One subscription, plus the Meta AI and Vibes Help Centre and its articles on reporting a problem and exporting your information. Meta says Meta One is still in limited testing and not available everywhere. Nobody here cancelled a plan or contacted its support. They are graded apart from the five that make the GPA. How we grade refunds and support.
Part 06 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
ChatGPT, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Grok and Claude
The 5 tools Meta AI is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.4GPA
ChatGPT
Free plan · from $8/mo
OpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant for chat, images and voice.
- Only ChatGPT lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Meta AI also covers research.
- 3.8GPA
Gemini
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Google's AI assistant, tied into Gmail, Docs and other Google apps.
- Only Gemini lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Meta AI also covers research.
- 3.0GPA
Microsoft Copilot
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Microsoft's AI assistant for chat, images and Microsoft 365 apps.
- Only Microsoft Copilot lists Windows and macOS apps.
- Microsoft Copilot also covers AI agents.
- 2.6GPA
Grok
Free plan · from $10.00
- 3.0GPA
Claude
Free plan · from $17/mo
Anthropic's AI assistant for writing, analysis and coding.
- Only Claude lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Claude lists a browser extension.
- Meta AI also covers research.
Part 07 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
17
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Meta AI free?
Meta AI has a free plan. Meta AI is free for everyone.
How much does Meta AI cost?
Meta AI lists 3 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Meta AI work on?
Meta AI is available on Web, iOS and Android.
How is Meta AI rated?
Meta AI's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 266,274 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does Meta AI have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Meta AI is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Does Meta AI have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Meta AI is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Is Meta AI open source?
Meta AI is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
What does Meta AI integrate with?
Meta AI's listing names WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, Facebook, Google Workspace and Meta Ads Manager.
Who makes Meta AI?
Meta AI is made by Meta. It dates from 2023.
What are the alternatives to Meta AI?
The closest alternatives to Meta AI in our directory are ChatGPT, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Grok and Claude.
Does Meta AI give refunds?
Meta's article on cancelling says that if you cancel you will not receive a credit or a refund, unless required by law.
How do I cancel Meta AI?
You can cancel inside the Meta AI app: Menu, then Settings, then Accounts Centre, then Subscriptions, then Meta One, then Cancel subscription at the bottom.
What happens to my data if I cancel Meta AI?
The subscription stays active until the current billing cycle ends, and at that point all the plan's benefits go.
How do I contact Meta AI support?
Meta AI's pages list these ways to get help: help inside the app and help centre.
How does Meta AI compare with other AI assistants?
Meta AI's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 30 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade, and level with 8.
Is Meta AI good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Meta AI B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $7.99 a month, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 9 of the 38 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Meta AI?
To replace Meta AI you would be making an AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Meta AI’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Meta's own pages on 5 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-05-23.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Meta. Prices change, so check meta.ai before you buy.
- meta.com/meta-one-plans/
- about.fb.com/news/2026/09/introducing-meta-one-subscription-service-more-features-ai/
- meta.com/help/subscriptions/960854640235758/
- meta.com/help/subscriptions/1887238708654023/
- apps.apple.com/us/app/meta-ai/id1558240027
- play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.facebook.stella
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meta_AI
Part 08 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Meta AI, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/meta-ai
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Meta AI: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/meta-ai
Know someone choosing between AI assistants?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/meta-ai/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded AI assistants after Meta AI, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- AI Assistants Insider's GuideEvery one of the 58 AI assistants we grade, compared
- Gemini Insider's GuideGoogle's AI assistant, tied into Gmail, Docs and other Google apps3.8 GPA
- Chatbox Insider's GuideAI chat client for your own API keys or a hosted model plan3.4 GPA
- ChatGPT Insider's GuideOpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant for chat, images and voice3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Meta AI’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Meta AI is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Meta. Prices and plans change: check meta.ai before you buy.