Snapchat has officially announced a major change to its Memories feature. Starting soon, users will only get 5 GB of free storage, and anything beyond that will require a paid subscription. This update marks one of the biggest shifts in how Snapchat handles data storage.
Why Is Snapchat Charging for Memories?
For years, Snapchat allowed unlimited Memories storage for free. But as the number of saved Snaps skyrocketed, so did the company’s cloud storage costs. To manage this, Snapchat is introducing tiered storage plans for users who need extra space.
Free Storage Limit and Paid Plans
5 GB Free Storage
Every Snapchat account will include 5 GB of Memories storage at no cost. If your saved Snaps stay within this limit, you won’t be affected.
New Paid Plans
Snapchat is rolling out the following subscription options:
- 100 GB plan — $1.99/month
- 250 GB plan (Snapchat+ users) — $3.99/month
- 5 TB plan (Snapchat Platinum) — $15.99/month
If your Memories already exceed 5 GB, Snapchat will give you 12 months of temporary access to your old content before you must upgrade or download your data.
Who Will Be Affected by This Change?
- Most users with under 5 GB of saved Snaps won’t notice any difference.
- Heavy Snapchatters with thousands of saved Snaps will need to choose between upgrading storage or risk losing older content.
- Platinum and Snapchat+ subscribers will likely benefit the most from larger storage tiers.
Pros and Cons of the New Storage Policy
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Ensures long-term sustainability for Snapchat Memories | Free storage limit drops from unlimited to just 5 GB |
| Offers flexible storage plans for heavy users | Extra cost for users with large Memories |
| Keeps your Snaps safe in the cloud | Users may feel forced to pay for content they already saved |
What Should You Do Now?
- Check your current Memories usage in Snapchat settings.
- If you’re under 5 GB, nothing changes for you.
- If you’re over the limit, consider upgrading to the 100 GB plan or a higher plan.
- Download your Snaps to your device or cloud storage if you don’t want to pay.
- Stay updated as Snapchat rolls out these changes worldwide.
Final Thoughts
Snapchat’s decision to charge for Memories storage is a controversial but inevitable move. Cloud storage is expensive, and Snapchat is aligning with other apps that limit free space.
For casual users, the free 5 GB will be more than enough. But if you’ve saved years of Snaps, you’ll need to either pay for extra storage or back up your content elsewhere.
This update could change how users engage with Snapchat – shifting from unlimited saving to more selective storage.
