Snapchat has officially announced a 5 GB free limit on Memories, a major change that could affect users with large Snap archives. The company is positioning this as a move to streamline cloud use while unlocking a new revenue stream.
Paid Plans for Snapchat Memories Storage
To help users manage the shift, Snapchat is offering several paid options:
- Memories Only Plan offers 100 GB of storage for $1.99 per month.
- Snapchat Plus users are automatically upgraded to 250 GB of storage at $3.99 per month.
- Snapchat Plus Platinum offers a massive 5 TB of storage for power users.
Snap says users already over the 5 GB cap will get 12 months of temporary storage before they are required to subscribe or lose older Memories.
Why Snapchat Is Monetizing Memories
According to Snap, most users fall well below the new cap. Still, the change reflects a monetization pivot, as social platforms like Apple iCloud, Google One, and Dropbox have proven that paid storage is a lucrative model.
The move also strengthens Snapchat’s subscription ecosystem, incentivizing users to stay engaged while creating a fresh revenue channel beyond advertising.
Impact on Users and the Industry
For casual users, the change might pass unnoticed. But Snapchat power users, creators, and archivists may face tough decisions:
- Pay for a subscription to keep everything stored.
- Delete older Snaps to stay under the limit.
- Export Memories locally to keep their data offline.