Key takeaways
- Some Facebook Pages can add links to only two posts a month unless they buy a Meta One plan, which costs $49.99 for eight link posts.
- City and nonprofit Pages were hit even though Meta says the test should not include them.
- Meta says nonprofits must list nonprofit in their Page category to be recognized and excluded.
A Facebook link limit test is catching groups that Meta says should not be in it. City governments and small nonprofits report that their Facebook Pages can now share links in only two posts a month, and that anything more requires a paid Meta One subscription costing up to $499.99 a month. Engadget first reported the problem on October 23, and Meta has confirmed it is testing link sharing as a subscription perk.
What happened
Pages in the test get two link posts each month for free. When they try a third, Facebook shows a prompt to subscribe. One message seen by Engadget read: "You can add links to 2 posts per month, and you've used them all."
A Meta spokesperson told Engadget: "We've been testing whether sharing links on Facebook should be part of the Meta One subscription." The spokesperson added that Meta "will continue to evolve the experience based on the feedback we receive."
Meta says the test is not meant to touch nonprofit or government Pages. In practice it did. After Engadget's story ran, Meta said Pages must list "nonprofit" in their Facebook category section to be recognized as nonprofits. It did not explain why groups that show nonprofit status elsewhere on their Pages, or use Meta's own fundraising tools, were caught anyway.
How much Meta One costs for links
According to Engadget, Meta's business plans break down like this:
| Plan | Monthly price | Facebook link posts | |---|---|---| | Entry | $14.99 | None (adds a link page to an Instagram bio) | | Mid tier | $49.99 | 8 | | Upper tier | $149.99 | 20 | | Top tier | $499.99 | Unlimited |
Offers shown to affected groups did not always match those prices. One California nonprofit was quoted $40 a month for 8 links, $119 for 20 or $399 for unlimited.
Who is affected by the Facebook link limit
Local governments
In Greenville, Texas, a city of about 35,000, communications manager Daniel Starks oversees nearly a dozen city Facebook Pages. The library's Page, which Meta had already verified and which is listed as a government building, hit the two link cap. "More than half of what we do as a city, is linking back to information on our website," Starks told Engadget. The city told staff to stop putting links in posts and now drops URLs into comments instead, with a graphic telling followers where to look.
Small nonprofits
East Side Pawject, an Indianapolis group that organizes pet food pantries, ran out of links while promoting an event. Its Page has just under 1,000 followers. "We're a very small nonprofit, and we want to do big things," co-president Bethany English said.
Jeff Bannister, marketing manager for SparkPoint in Transylvania County, North Carolina, called the $49.99 plan for eight links "crazy." "The ROI seems almost negative," he said.
California Freethought Day president David Diskin got the notice days before his group's annual Sacramento event. The limit was lifted this week without explanation. "It wasn't until after our big fundraiser had passed that they fixed the problem," he said.
Why it matters
Facebook is still where many towns post road closures, library hours, storm updates and volunteer calls. Links are how those posts send people to the full details. Putting a price on them moves a basic public information channel behind a paywall, even if only for Pages in a test.
The rules also look inconsistent. Engadget found that some Pages could still post links in comments while others could not, and Meta's plan descriptions and help center do not say the restriction is a test. Diskin pointed out that adding a link is one of Facebook's oldest features and uses no AI, even though Meta sells Meta One mainly on its AI tools.
This is not new territory for Meta. In December 2025, Social Media Today reported a test that limited some Pages and professional profiles without Meta Verified to two organic link posts a month. Meta said at the time it was studying whether more link posts add value for subscribers. Link sharing has since moved from Meta Verified into the AI focused Meta One bundle, and Engadget says Meta has been testing paid linking for nearly a year.
It fits a pattern of Meta tightening how its platforms work, from banning TikTok ads on Facebook and Instagram to the legal pressure it faces in cases like Rhode Island's scam ad lawsuit. It also echoes a broader trend we flagged when Reddit moved to end its RSS feeds: big platforms making it harder to send people anywhere else.
What Page managers can do now
If your Page hits the cap, here are options based on what affected groups told Engadget and what Meta has said:
- Check your Page category. Meta says nonprofits must list "nonprofit" in the category section to be identified correctly. Government Pages should confirm their category too.
- Save links for what matters most. Use your two monthly link posts for urgent or high value items.
- Use comments where they still work. Greenville moved links into comments, though this did not work for every Page in the test.
- Try Facebook Events. East Side Pawject is considering events instead of posts for its activities.
- Spread your reach. SparkPoint is working with other local nonprofits to rely less on Facebook. Email newsletters and your own website stay under your control.
While you are reviewing settings, run a social media privacy checkup on the accounts that manage your Page. Scammers also like to copy official Pages, and our guide to spotting fake social media accounts explains the warning signs.
What to watch next
Meta has not said how long the test will run, how many Pages are in it, or whether it plans a wider rollout. Watch for whether Meta exempts government and nonprofit Pages automatically, whether it updates its help center to call this a test, and whether public agencies or lawmakers push back. Follow more platform news in our tech section.
Frequently asked questions
Is Facebook charging everyone to post links?
No. Meta describes it as a test that affects some Pages, and it says nonprofit and government Pages are not supposed to be included.
How many free link posts does a Page get?
Pages in the test can add links to two posts per month. More requires a Meta One plan, starting at $49.99 a month for eight.
How do I get my nonprofit excluded?
Meta says the Page must list "nonprofit" in its Facebook category section to be identified as a nonprofit.
Do links in comments still work?
For some Pages, yes. Engadget found that some groups could post links in comments while others could not.
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