For almost a decade, Snapchat users have relied on the app’s Memories feature to save and revisit their favorite Snaps. What started in 2016 as a simple way to preserve moments that were supposed to disappear has grown into one of Snapchat’s most popular tools.
Over the years, users have saved more than one trillion photos and videos inside Memories, turning the feature into a digital diary and a personal cloud service. Until now, storage has always been unlimited and free. But that is about to change.
Snapchat has officially announced that free storage will now be capped at 5GB, and users who want to save more will need to pay for a subscription.
The news has sparked a heated debate. Some see it as a natural step in the evolution of social media, while others accuse Snapchat of being greedy. Let’s break down what this change means, the new storage plans, and how it could affect users worldwide.
What Is Snapchat Memories?
Snapchat is best known for disappearing messages and short-lived Stories. But in 2016, the company introduced Memories, a feature that allowed users to:
- Save Snaps and Stories beyond the usual 24-hour limit
- Organize old posts into collections
- Repost saved content as “throwbacks”
- Create personal albums from their archives
This feature quickly became essential for many. It allowed users to keep a personal timeline of their lives directly inside the app. What made it even more attractive was that storage seemed unlimited and free.
The Big Change: Free Storage Is Now Capped
Snapchat announced that from now on, all users will have a 5GB free storage limit for Memories.
Once you cross that line, you’ll have two options:
- Download your old Snaps to your device and free up space, or
- Pay for extra storage through one of Snapchat’s new subscription plans.
According to Snap, most people won’t even notice the change, since the majority of users store less than 5GB of content. However, heavy users — especially those who have been using Memories for years — may be forced to pay if they want to keep everything.
Snapchat’s Paid Storage Plans
To help users manage larger collections, Snapchat is rolling out several paid plans. Here are the main options:
- 100GB Plan – $1.99/month
- Snapchat+ Subscription – $3.99/month with 250GB storage and additional premium features
- Snapchat Platinum Plan – $15.99/month with 5TB of storage
The plans are being introduced gradually around the world. While prices in the U.S. are confirmed, Snap says costs may vary depending on region.
This means that if you’re in the UK, India, or other countries, exact pricing may differ.
Grace Period: What Happens If You’re Already Over the Limit?
Many long-time Snapchatters have far more than 5GB of saved Snaps. To avoid sudden loss, Snapchat is offering a 12-month grace period.
Here’s how it works:
- Your excess Memories will be stored temporarily for one year.
- You’ll have time to download your Snaps or upgrade to a paid plan.
- After the grace period, if you don’t upgrade, older Snaps will be kept safe but newer ones that exceed the limit may be deleted.
This means your memories won’t vanish overnight, but you’ll need to take action before the grace period ends.
Why Is Snapchat Doing This?
So, why is Snap changing a feature that’s been free for nearly a decade?
The main reason is cost and sustainability. Hosting trillions of photos and videos isn’t cheap. Servers, bandwidth, and infrastructure require constant investment.
In a blog post, Snap admitted:
“It’s never easy to transition from receiving a service for free to paying for it, but we hope the value we provide with Memories is worth the cost. These changes will allow us to continue to invest in making Memories better for our entire community.”
In simple terms, Snapchat wants to offset the growing costs of storage while improving the feature in the future.
Backlash From Users
Not everyone is convinced. The announcement triggered an immediate backlash online.
- Some users called the move “unfair” since they saved content for years assuming it would always be free.
- Others described Snap as “greedy”, saying the company is forcing people to pay to keep their own memories.
- Social media platforms lit up with frustrated posts from users who suddenly realized they may lose access to years of saved Snaps.
One common complaint is that people feel trapped — either they pay for storage, or they risk losing personal archives they thought were safe.
Expert Opinions: A Sign of the Future?
While users are angry, some experts believe this was inevitable.
Drew Benvie, CEO of Battenhall consultancy, explained:
“The road to paying for storage on social media is inevitable. In an era where we post less but save more, this is an evolution of messaging and social media platforms.”
This suggests Snapchat’s move may not be unique. Other platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or even Facebook could follow the same path in the future, charging for archiving features.
Who Will Be Affected Most?
Snapchat currently has over 900 million monthly active users. But not all of them will feel this change the same way.
- Casual users – Those who only save a few Snaps won’t notice.
- Active long-time users – People with years of saved content may need to upgrade.
- Heavy creators – Influencers and dedicated Snapchatters with thousands of Snaps will likely face high costs if they want to keep everything in-app.
This means the change is targeting the small but heavy user group whose storage demands are most expensive for Snap to maintain.
The Bigger Picture: Social Media as Cloud Storage
Snapchat’s decision highlights a bigger trend. Social media is increasingly doubling as personal cloud storage.
- Instagram offers Highlights that preserve Stories.
- Facebook keeps a permanent archive of photos and videos.
- TikTok allows saving drafts and reposting old videos.
As people post less publicly but keep saving privately, platforms may start charging for these archives — much like Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox already do.
Snapchat may be the first big platform to draw this line, but it likely won’t be the last.
FAQs About Snapchat’s New Storage Plans
1. Will my Snaps disappear right away?
No. Snapchat gives users 12 months of temporary storage for Memories that exceed the free 5GB limit. This means you have plenty of time to either download your Snaps to your device or upgrade to a paid plan before anything gets deleted. Your memories won’t vanish suddenly, so you can plan accordingly.
2. Is Snapchat+ the same as the storage plan?
Not exactly. Snapchat+ is a premium subscription that offers extra features like badges, exclusive icons, and more, and it includes 250GB of storage for your Memories. If you don’t want the additional perks, you can instead buy a standalone 100GB storage plan for $1.99/month, which only increases your storage without extra Snapchat+ features.
3. Can I avoid paying?
Yes! You can download all your Memories directly to your phone or other devices during the 12-month grace period. Once downloaded, you can free up space in Snapchat and continue using the app without paying. This is a good option if you don’t want to subscribe but still want to save your important Snaps.
4. Who will this affect?
Most Snapchat users won’t notice any changes, since the majority have less than 5GB of Memories saved. The new paid storage mainly affects heavy users who have thousands of Snaps accumulated over the years. These users may need to upgrade their storage plan to keep all of their content in Snapchat.
5. Why are my newer Snaps deleted first?
Snap prioritizes keeping your oldest Memories safe, as they are often the most sentimental or important. If your total storage exceeds the limit and you don’t upgrade, Snapchat will delete the most recent Snaps first. This helps ensure that long-term archives remain intact, while making room for new content if you don’t subscribe.
6. Will Snapchat charge for Memories?
Yes. Everyone gets 5GB of free storage, but any Memories beyond that require a paid storage plan. The plans start at $1.99 per month for 100GB, with higher tiers available for Snapchat+ and Platinum users. Charging for storage allows Snapchat to maintain infrastructure and improve the Memories feature for everyone.
7. Does Snapchat charge for Memories?
It depends on how much storage you use. If you stay under the 5GB free limit, there’s no charge. Once you go over that limit, you’ll need to pay for extra storage if you want to keep all your saved Snaps on Snapchat.
8. Is Snapchat making you pay for storage?
Yes — but only for users who exceed the free 5GB limit. If your Memories are under 5GB, you can continue using the feature without any payment. Paying only becomes necessary when your collection grows large enough that you need more space to store your photos and videos.
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