Snapchat launches paid storage plans

Snapchat is placing a cap on nostalgia. The platform has announced that users will now be limited to 5GB of free Memories storage, with new paid plans rolling out for those who want to keep more of their Snaps archived. For the company, the move is part of a larger push to expand revenue streams beyond advertising.

The entry-level Memories plan is priced at $1.99 per month, offering 100GB of storage. Snapchat+ subscribers, who already pay $3.99 a month, will now see their storage boosted to 250GB at no additional cost. For heavy users who rarely delete anything, Snap has also introduced a Platinum tier at $15.99 per month, bundling a massive 5TB of storage.

The company said the update was necessary as Memories has grown far beyond its original scope. Since launching in 2016, more than one trillion Snaps have been saved in the archive, making it one of Snapchat’s most valuable user features. “When we first launched Memories, we never expected it to grow to what it has become today,” Snap said in its announcement. “We want to make sure our community can continue to store all of their Memories over the long term, so we are introducing new Memories Storage Plans to support Snapchatters with more than 5GB.”

For most users, who save fewer than 5GB of Snaps, nothing changes. But for longtime users and creators who rely on the feature, the shift from free storage to subscription pricing marks a significant adjustment. Snap is offering a 12-month temporary buffer for excess Memories, giving people time to either upgrade or download their archives before anything is lost.

The rollout of paid storage follows a string of subscription experiments at Snap. Just last month, the company unveiled Lens+, a $9-a-month service that unlocks exclusive AR effects. By putting a price tag on both features and storage, Snapchat is aligning itself with rivals like Google and Apple, which also monetise cloud storage. 

Snap hopes the same strategy will help it future-proof its business model and continue to invest in what it calls “one of the most personal features on the platform.”