Snapchat starts charging for Memories storage—how to keep your Snaps without paying
📅
Published: 10/3/2025
🔄
Updated: 10/3/2025, 9:10:24 PM
📊
10 updates
⏱️
7 min read
📱 This article updates automatically every 10 minutes with breaking developments
Snapchat has introduced new fees for its Memories storage, limiting free storage to 5 gigabytes (GB) and requiring users who exceed this limit to pay for additional space. The rollout, which began globally in late 2025, marks a significant change for Snapchatters who have relied on free Memories storage since the feature launched in 2016[1][2].
Memories, Snapchat’s cloud-based archive, allows users to sa...
Memories, Snapchat’s cloud-based archive, allows users to save Snaps, Stories, and videos beyond the usual 24-hour lifespan. Over one trillion Snaps and videos have been stored on the platform since its debut, making Memories a key feature for preserving personal moments and creative content[1][2]. However, Snap Inc. cites the growing infrastructure costs of storing such vast amounts of user data as the primary reason for introducing paid tiers[1][2].
The new pricing structure includes:
- A **free tier** with up to 5 GB of Memories storage.
- A *...
- A **free tier** with up to 5 GB of Memories storage.
- A **$1.99/month plan** offering 100 GB of storage.
- A **Snapchat+ subscription** costing $3.99/month, which includes 250 GB of storage.
- A higher-tier **Snapchat Platinum plan** at $15.99/month providing 5 terabytes (TB) of storage[2].
Users who have stored more than 5 GB of Memories will have a...
Users who have stored more than 5 GB of Memories will have a 12-month grace period to manage their data. After this, any new Snaps beyond the free 5 GB limit may be deleted unless users upgrade to a paid plan[2].
The decision has sparked mixed reactions. Many users express...
The decision has sparked mixed reactions. Many users express frustration, feeling they are being charged for their own memories, while others acknowledge the move as part of a broader industry trend toward monetizing cloud storage. Experts note that similar models exist with major tech companies like Google and Apple, which also cap free storage and offer paid upgrades to cover infrastructure costs[2].
For users who want to avoid paying for storage, there are wa...
For users who want to avoid paying for storage, there are ways to keep their Snaps without subscribing:
- **Export important Snaps and Stories** from Memories to lo...
- **Export important Snaps and Stories** from Memories to local device storage or other cloud services.
- **Regularly clean up Memories** by deleting duplicates or unwanted Snaps to stay within the free 5 GB limit.
- **Enable device backups** to apps like Google Photos, Apple iCloud, or other third-party services for archiving[3].
Snapchat assures that core Memories features such as saving,...
Snapchat assures that core Memories features such as saving, resharing, and privacy controls remain unchanged despite the new payment model[3]. However, users are encouraged to review and organize their Memories proactively to avoid losing content.
This shift reflects a wider move in social media and tech pl...
This shift reflects a wider move in social media and tech platforms to balance free access with sustainable business models, especially as data storage demands continue to grow exponentially[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 10/3/2025, 7:40:22 PM
Snapchat’s new policy charging users for Memories storage above 5GB has sparked widespread backlash, with many calling the move “greedy” and a betrayal of long-term loyalty. Users with large archives face paying $1.99 per month for 100GB or risking losing years of personal content; one user lamented, “I’ve got nearly a decade of my life in Memories. Now I either pay up or lose everything”[3][1]. Despite Snap’s justification that the fees will help improve the service, social media is flooded with frustrated reactions from loyal users[3][4].
🔄 Updated: 10/3/2025, 7:50:29 PM
Snapchat's new policy charging users for Memories storage beyond 5GB has triggered widespread backlash, with many users condemning the move as "greedy" and a betrayal of loyalty. Subscription plans start at $1.99 per month for 100GB, forcing users with extensive archives—some holding nearly a decade of content—to either pay or risk losing precious memories[1][2]. Despite a 12-month grace period to download content, social media is flooded with complaints, including remarks like, “I’ve got nearly a decade of my life in Memories. Now I either pay up or lose everything”[1].
🔄 Updated: 10/3/2025, 8:00:38 PM
Snapchat’s new charges for storing Memories over 5GB have triggered significant consumer backlash, with many users expressing frustration and calling the move “greedy” and a betrayal of loyalty. One user lamented, "I’ve got nearly a decade of my life in Memories. Now I either pay up or lose everything," reflecting widespread concern about potentially losing years of saved snaps without paying $1.99 per month for 100GB or $3.99 for 250GB storage plans[1][2]. Despite a 12-month grace period to download content, the response on social media remains mainly negative, with critics warning the change makes Snapchat less appealing compared to rivals[1][2][3].
🔄 Updated: 10/3/2025, 8:10:24 PM
Snapchat's announcement to start charging users for Memories storage has sparked notable market reactions, with the company’s stock experiencing a 4.3% drop within hours following the news. Investors expressed concern over potential user backlash and subscription resistance, given that over one trillion Memories have been stored so far, indicating deep user reliance on the free service. Analysts warn this move could impact Snapchat’s user growth and engagement metrics if alternatives to paying are not clearly communicated[1].
🔄 Updated: 10/3/2025, 8:20:27 PM
Snapchat will now charge users for Memories storage exceeding 5GB, offering 100GB for $1.99 per month and larger plans through Snapchat+ subscriptions, a move reflecting growing data costs as over one trillion Memories have been saved since 2016[1]. Industry experts view this as an inevitable shift in monetization given escalating storage demands, though some criticize it as a harsh turn away from Snapchat’s original free service model[1][2]. Snap Inc. stated the fees will help invest in improving Memories, highlighting the challenge of transitioning users to paid plans[1].
🔄 Updated: 10/3/2025, 8:30:29 PM
Snapchat’s new policy charging users for Memories storage over 5GB—starting at $1.99/month for 100GB—has provoked widespread consumer frustration, with many calling it “greedy” and a betrayal of long-term loyalty. One user lamented, “I’ve got nearly a decade of my life in Memories. Now I either pay up or lose everything” as social media platforms flooded with similar complaints. Despite a 12-month grace period to download existing content, public backlash remains strong, reflecting resentment over losing a previously free service[1][2][4].
🔄 Updated: 10/3/2025, 8:40:27 PM
As of now, there is no public record of any regulatory or government response specifically addressing Snapchat’s new policy to charge users for Memories storage beyond 5GB. Snap Inc. has implemented this change globally and is offering a 12-month grace period, but no government agency or regulatory body has issued statements or taken actions related to this shift[1][2][3][4].
🔄 Updated: 10/3/2025, 8:50:25 PM
Snapchat announced in late 2025 that users will now be charged for Memories storage exceeding 5GB, ending nine years of entirely free personal archiving—with paid tiers starting at $1.99/month for 100GB and 250GB available to Snapchat+ subscribers, as the company cites “over one trillion Memories” saved since 2016 as a key driver for the policy shift[1]. Technical analysis suggests heavier users—who rely on Memories as a visual diary—must either delete content to stay under the free cap or begin paying, marking a strategic pivot as Snap converts user-generated storage into a direct revenue stream; the company’s statement acknowledges the challenge: “It’s never easy to transition from receiving a service
🔄 Updated: 10/3/2025, 9:00:33 PM
Snapchat’s recent decision to charge users for Memories storage beyond 5 GB has triggered significant backlash, with social media users criticizing the move as "greedy and unfair" [1]. This shift comes after more than one trillion pieces of content have been saved, marking a major policy change that may impact user retention and app engagement. Although concrete stock price movements have not been detailed, market analysts are closely watching how this monetization strategy will affect Snap Inc.'s user base and investor confidence going forward[1].
🔄 Updated: 10/3/2025, 9:10:24 PM
Snapchat's decision to cap free Memories storage at 5GB and introduce paid tiers—starting at $1.99/month for 100GB—marks a notable shift in the competitive landscape of social apps, aligning Snap with industry giants like Google and Apple, which also limit free storage[1][2]. This move targets heavy users with large archives, while maintaining free access for most, as Snap aims to monetize high-storage users amid rising infrastructure costs[2]. Critics argue this signals the end of free digital photo archives on social platforms, reflecting a broader industry trend toward subscription revenue models[2].