Snapchat, the go-to app for fleeting snaps, is no longer keeping all those cherished moments free forever. The company announced this week that it's capping free storage for its Memories feature at 5GB, forcing heavy users to pony up for extra space. Memories, launched back in 2016, lets people save photos and videos that would otherwise vanish after viewing. But with over a trillion such saves piling up, Snap Inc. says the costs are mounting.
Indeed, the shift comes as Snapchat boasts 460 million daily active users and 900 million monthly, many hooked on reliving old highlights. Starting now, anyone exceeding that 5GB limit will need to subscribe to new storage plans. The basic one runs about $1.99 a month for up to 100GB, while it's bundled into pricier tiers like Snapchat Plus and Platinum for even more room—up to 5TB in the top plan. Current over-limit users get a 12-month grace period to export their stuff or pay up, but after that, it's delete or subscribe.
However, the reaction hasn't been kind. Social media is buzzing with frustration, calls of "greedy" echoing from users who built years of digital scrapbooks without expecting a bill. One viral post fumed about shelling out $16 monthly just to keep drunk-night chips photos alive. Moreover, critics point out this feels like another monetization squeeze on a platform that's struggled to turn a profit despite its popularity. Snap insists it's only hitting the heaviest users, ensuring most folks—those under 5GB—keep accessing for free.
Still, the timing raises eyebrows, especially as rivals like Instagram mull their own ad-free fees. Snapchat's move underscores a broader tech trend: free services turning paid as data hoards grow. But for loyal snappers, it stings like losing a best friend over a forgotten birthday. Is this the end of carefree saving, or just smart business in a crowded app world?