TAIPEI, Taiwan (October 23, 2025)— Popular messaging app LINE has officially introduced its “LINE Premium” subscription plan in Taiwan, priced at NT$165 per month, offering five new features: advanced backup, enhanced photo albums, customizable profiles, app icons, and fonts. However, the launch sparked widespread criticism online, particularly from users on the PTT forum, who expressed frustration that even basic functions now require payment.
The highlight of the new plan is the “Advanced Backup” feature — a long-awaited addition that enables users to back up all chat histories, photos, videos, files, and voice messages to LINE’s 100GB official cloud storage. The service also supports cross-platform transfers between Android and iPhone, eliminating the previous issue of data loss when switching devices.
Until now, LINE backups were limited to Google Drive and iCloud, and only within the same operating system. Chat histories could be transferred across systems but were retained for just 14 days, a limitation that frustrated many users.
While the update finally provides a complete cross-platform backup solution, it comes with a price tag — something that many users find unreasonable. Several netizens voiced their disapproval, commenting:
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“Backing up data after changing phones is free on other apps, but you have to pay for it on LINE.”
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“It’s ridiculous that cross-platform backup isn’t free.”
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“Even basic functions now require a fee.”
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“They’re actually selling the backup feature for money.”
Others argued that the subscription should at least remove in-app ads, or pointed out that Taiwan’s monthly fee is higher compared to Thailand and Japan, where the service was previously introduced. Some even criticized LINE’s pricing strategy, saying, “With a 99.4% market share, they’re just doing whatever they want.”
Despite the backlash, LINE Premium may still attract users seeking enhanced customization and reliable backup options. However, for many in Taiwan, the new plan represents a disappointing shift toward monetizing features that were once considered essential and free.