Snapchat is going to charge for storage — here’s how to save your Memories for free

Snap Inc. is implementing a new monetization strategy by capping free 'Memories' storage at 5GB, requiring users to subscribe to paid plans or export content. This initiative offers tiered storage options, including 100GB for $1.99/month, 250GB with Snapchat+ ($3.99/month), and 5TB with Snapchat Platinum ($15.99/month), representing a direct revenue stream from a core feature and potentially boosting subscription growth.

Analysis

Nearly a decade after becoming a digital time capsule for your life’s moments, Snapchat is set to put a price on its Memories feature. The company announced last week that it’s capping free Memories storage at 5GB. If your Memories exceed the limit, you will need to either export them or sign up for one of Snapchat’s new Memories Storage plans in order to preserve them. The company told TechCrunch in an email that the introductory storage plan offers up to 100GB of storage for $1.99 per month. Snapchat+ users will get up to 250GB of storage as part of their $3.99 monthly subscription, while Snapchat Platinum users will get 5TB as part of their $15.99 monthly subscription. If you’re over the limit but don’t sign up for a plan, your oldest Snaps will be saved, while the most recent ones will be deleted to stay within the storage limit. Although the company has given users 12 months of temporary storage for Memories that exceed the 5GB limit, some users are proactively choosing to export their Memories instead of paying up. We’ll walk you through the two options you have for preserving your Snapchat Memories. Export your Snapchat Memories to your device’s camera roll One way to save your Snapchat Memories is by downloading them to your camera roll. Although this can be done directly from your phone, you’re limited to batches of 100 at a time, which can be a time-consuming task if you have thousands of saved Snaps. Join 10k+ tech and VC leaders for growth and connections at Disrupt 2025 Netflix, Box, a16z, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Hugging Face, Elad Gil, Vinod Khosla — just some of the 250+ heavy hitters leading 200+ sessions designed to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech. Grab your ticket before doors open to save up to $444. Join 10k+ tech and VC leaders for growth and connections at Disrupt 2025 Netflix, Box, a16z, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Hugging Face, Elad Gil, Vinod Khosla — just some of the 250+ heavy hitters leading 200+ sessions designed to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss a chance to learn from the top voices in tech. Grab your ticket before doors open to save up to $444. However, this could be a good way of selecting the Snaps you actually want to save. Here’s what you need to do: - Open the Snapchat app and select the “Memories” icon next to the camera button. - Tap the “Select” option in the top right corner. - Select up to 100 Memories that you want to keep. - Tap the “Export” button that appears at the bottom right of your screen. - Select “Download” to save them to your camera roll. Repeat this process to save another batch of 100 Memories. Download your Snapchat data If you don’t want to spend time exporting your Memories in batches of 100, you can use Snapchat’s “Download My Data” tool to save your Memories archive and get it emailed to you in a .zip file. Here’s what you need to do: - Open the Snapchat app and navigate to your Profile. - Tap the Settings icon in the top right of your screen. - Scroll down to the “My Data” option. - Select the Memories, HTML Files, and JSON Files options. (Uncheck the options below unless you also want to save additional information, such as your chat history, user data, and more. Just keep in mind, it might be harder to find your Memories later in the .zip file.) - Tap “Next.” - Select the “All Time” option when prompted to choose a date range for the export. - Confirm your email address. - Tap “Submit.” The time it takes to receive your data may vary depending on how much you have stored. Snap Inc. is implementing a significant monetization shift for its 'Memories' feature, transitioning from a fully free service to a freemium model. The company is capping free cloud storage at 5GB, a move designed to drive subscription revenue by compelling users with larger archives to upgrade. The new pricing structure is tiered, offering a 100GB plan for $1.99 per month, while also enhancing the value proposition of its existing subscription services: Snapchat+ ($3.99/month) will now include 250GB, and a new Snapchat Platinum tier ($15.99/month) will offer 5TB. This strategy introduces a direct and recurring revenue stream from a core, high-engagement feature, potentially boosting subscriber numbers and Average Revenue Per User (ARPU). However, the initiative is not without risk, as the article notes that some users are opting to export their data rather than pay. The 12-month grace period for excess storage is a tactical measure to mitigate immediate user backlash, but the ultimate success of this initiative will depend on the conversion rate of the user base to paid plans versus potential churn or reduced engagement.

Key Decisions for Investors

• Investors should closely monitor Snap's next quarterly earnings for new subscriber additions to Snapchat+ and any commentary on the adoption rates of the new standalone storage plans, as this will be the primary indicator of the strategy's success.
• Consider this a potential long-term positive catalyst for Average Revenue Per User (ARPU), but weigh it against the risk of user friction or a decline in engagement metrics if a significant portion of the user base resists monetization.
• Watch for company guidance or third-party data on user activity and sentiment following the enforcement of the 5GB cap, as negative trends could offset the direct revenue benefits from new subscriptions.