Snapchat to Charge Users for Memories Storage Starting in 2026

MADISON, Wis. — Snapchat will begin charging users for storage space of their photo and video Memories starting in 2026. The company announced the changes will only affect users who exceed five gigabytes of saved content.

As users continue to collect memories over the years, Snapchat has stated that those with more than 5GB will need to subscribe to its new storage plans. The lowest tier will offer 100GB for $1.99 per month, while a higher tier provides 250GB for $3.99. Users opting for the premium subscription will gain access to 5TB for $15.99 monthly.

Snapchat indicated that since the launch of Memories nearly a decade ago, users have saved over one trillion items. The company wrote, “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.”

Users who exceed the 5GB limit will be granted a 12-month grace period with free storage. If they do not sign up for a plan, the oldest saved content will remain, but newer items beyond the limit could be deleted. Users can also download their memories directly to their devices.

While Snapchat claims that most of its users have less than 5GB of content and will not be affected by the changes, many users have expressed dissatisfaction on social media. Some users argue that the decision feels greedy, especially for those who have used the platform’s free storage for years.

Youseff Eissa, a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, voiced his concerns, stating, “I feel that’s just the way that a lot of companies are going now with their profit forward mindset.” Another student, Emily Lin, expressed apprehension about the potential costs, emphasizing that many users might quit the app over these changes.

Min-Seok Pang, a professor of Information Systems and Analytics, shared insights on the implications of this shift: “If the technology companies become unable to earn enough revenues from advertisements, it’s obvious that they are trying to find new revenue sources by directly charging users.”

As Snapchat gears up for this transition, the overarching trend suggests that many social media platforms might eventually require users to pay for preserved content.