Snapchat is a popular social media platform that allows users to share photos, videos, and messages that disappear after being viewed. In recent years, Snapchat has also emerged as an influential platform for businesses and brands looking to connect with younger audiences.
One of the ways businesses can establish a presence on Snapchat is by creating a Snapchat business account. But is a Snapchat business account free to use? Let’s take a closer look at what’s included with a Snapchat business profile and the pricing options available.
Snapchat Business Accounts Overview
Snapchat officially launched its business accounts feature in 2016. Business accounts on Snapchat function similarly to personal accounts, with some additional features tailored specifically for brands and businesses.
Some of the key features that come with a Snapchat business account include:
- A professional profile with business name, description, website, and contact info
- Analytics showing profile views, engagement, demographics, and more
- Ability to promote Snaps as ads and boost content
- Shoppable AR lenses and Snap ads to drive sales
- Special creative tools like branded lenses and filters
- Verification badge to authenticate brand profiles
For many small businesses, influencers, and content creators, the free Snapchat business account provides plenty of helpful tools for establishing a presence on the platform. But Snapchat also offers advanced paid options for larger brands that want access to more sophisticated advertising, analytics, and content capabilities.
Is a Snapchat Business Account Free?
The basic Snapchat business account is free to create and use. Any brand or business can sign up for a Snapchat business profile at no cost. The free account provides access to core features like:
- Snapchat profile customization
- Posting Snaps and Stories
- Engaging with followers and viewers
- Basic analytics on views and engagement
- Linking to external websites and channels
- Limited ability to promote Snaps as ads
For many small businesses, a free Snapchat business account is plenty sufficient. It allows brands to establish a presence, organically engage with audiences, and get a sense of their Snapchat analytics without having to pay anything.
Paid Snapchat Account Options
In addition to the free basic account, Snapchat offers three paid tiers for business accounts with expanded features and capabilities. These include:
Snapchat Plus
Snapchat Plus costs $3.99 per month and adds advanced analytics, such as tracking sales driven by Snapchat and measuring return on ad spend. Brands also get access to premium creative tools like custom Call-to-Action buttons.
Snapchat Advanced
For $9.99 per month, Snapchat Advanced unlocks additional analytic metrics, overlays for branding Snaps, and advanced audience segmentation and targeting. Brands can also use Snap Pixel to track conversions.
Snapchat Pro
The Pro tier is Snapchat’s most premium paid offering at $84.99 per month. It includes capabilities to schedule and automate Snaps, license music for content, integrate ecommerce capabilities, promote posts with higher visibility, and access phone and chat support.
Very large brands with substantial advertising budgets will get the most value from Snapchat’s paid tiers. But for most small businesses, influencers, content creators, and nonprofits, the free account has plenty to offer.
Comparing Free vs. Paid Snapchat Business Accounts
| Feature | Free Account | Paid Account |
|---|---|---|
| Create branded profile | ✅ | ✅ |
| Post Snaps and Stories | ✅ | ✅ |
| Basic analytics | ✅ | ✅ |
| Link to website | ✅ | ✅ |
| Verify account | ✅ | ✅ |
| Custom lenses/filters | Limited | ✅ |
| Advanced analytics | ❌ | ✅ |
| Promoted/sponsored Snaps | Limited | ✅ |
| Snap Pixel conversion tracking | ❌ | ✅ |
| Automated posting | ❌ | At highest tier |
As you can see, paid accounts unlock more powerful advertising, analytics, and account management capabilities. But the free account still provides an ample feature set for most use cases.
Other Potential Costs
While creating and maintaining a Snapchat business profile is free, there are some other costs brands should keep in mind:
- Ads: Promoting Snaps and lenses as ads involves additional costs, even for free accounts. Ad spend varies based on targeting, placement, and duration.
- Agency fees: Some brands hire social media marketing agencies to manage their Snapchat presence. Agency fees can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to thousands per month.
- Employee resources: Dedicating staff time to create content, engage with followers, and analyze data also has monetary value.
So while a Snapchat business profile itself is free, brands do need to invest other resources to build and grow their audience on the platform.
Conclusion
In summary, Snapchat currently offers business accounts at no cost. The free account provides useful branding, content sharing, and analytic capabilities suitable for most small and medium-sized brands.
For larger brands and sophisticated social media advertisers, Snapchat’s paid tiers unlock more advanced features and promotional opportunities. But most organizations can benefit from the free business profile to start building a Snapchat presence.
The only investment required is dedicating staff time and resources to activating the account. With over 300 million daily active users, Snapchat presents a significant opportunity for brands to engage new audiences and grow their visibility through creative social content.