By Harshit | 3 October 2025 | San Francisco | 9:00 AM EDT
Snapchat, the popular social media and messaging app, announced on Friday that users storing more than 5 gigabytes (GB) of photos and videos — known as “Memories” — may soon have to pay to keep their content on the platform. This move comes as the company aims to accommodate its growing user base while introducing new monetization strategies through subscription plans.
New Memories Storage Plans
According to Team Snapchat, the company will offer “Memories Storage Plans” to support users with high storage demands. These plans include:
- 100GB and 250GB of storage for subscribers of Snapchat+, the app’s monthly subscription service.
- 5 terabytes (TB) of storage for Snapchat Platinum subscribers.
Snapchat emphasized that for the majority of users with fewer than 5GB of Memories, nothing will change. However, those exceeding the 5GB limit — typically users who have saved thousands of Snaps — will need to choose one of the new plans to continue storing all of their content. For users affected, Snapchat will provide 12 months of temporary storage for any Memories above the 5GB limit, giving users time to decide whether to subscribe.
Why Snapchat Is Implementing Charges
Memories, launched in 2016, allow users to save curated photos and videos within the app. Unlike a standard camera roll that may contain duplicates or screenshots, Snapchat Memories are meant to capture meaningful moments users want to preserve. Since its launch, Snapchatters worldwide have saved over 1 trillion Memories, demonstrating both the feature’s popularity and its heavy demand on storage infrastructure.
In a statement, Snapchat said:
“When we first launched Memories, we never expected it to grow to what it has become today. We want to make sure that our community can continue to store all of their Memories over the long term.”
While Snapchat has yet to disclose pricing for these new storage plans or the official start of billing, the announcement signals the company’s strategy to support long-term growth and enhance user experience.
How to Avoid Paying for Extra Storage
Users who do not wish to pay for additional storage can download their Memories directly to their devices. To do so:
- Open Snapchat.
- Tap the photo icon to access Memories.
- Press and hold on a Snap or select multiple Snaps, then tap Export.
- Choose a location on your device to save your content.
Snapchat also allows users to download their full data, including Memories, through account settings. This ensures users can preserve their photos and videos outside of the app without subscribing to a storage plan.
Impact on Users
For many long-time Snapchat users who have accumulated thousands of Memories over the years, the new limits may come as a surprise. Users will now need to evaluate whether they want to subscribe to continue seamless access to their stored content or take proactive steps to download and back up Memories.
Experts say Snapchat’s move is a reflection of the broader trend in social media, where companies increasingly monetize premium features and storage capabilities. By offering subscription tiers, Snapchat can support its infrastructure costs while providing users with flexible options based on their needs.
Community Response and Considerations
While Snapchat’s primary focus is on storage management, some users have expressed concern about paying for content they had previously saved for free. The company is attempting to balance revenue generation with user satisfaction by offering temporary storage and flexible plan options.
As social media platforms continue to evolve, Snapchat’s storage plan initiative highlights the increasing value of personal digital content and the need for users to manage it thoughtfully. Those with large volumes of Memories now face choices regarding subscriptions, backups, or selective deletions.
Snapchat’s decision also underscores the importance of responsible digital archiving. Users who wish to preserve their Memories without subscribing are encouraged to regularly download and back up their photos and videos, ensuring that cherished moments remain safe regardless of the platform’s policies.
By introducing the new Memories Storage Plans, Snapchat is taking steps to address growing storage demands while giving users options to maintain, manage, or expand access to their personal content.
