Skip to Content

Is Snapchat free to get?

Is Snapchat free to get?

Snapchat is a popular social media app that allows users to send photo and video messages that disappear after being viewed. The app has a reputation for being used for sending risque images, but it also provides fun filters and lenses for overlaying effects on photos and videos. Snapchat is free to download and use with basic features, but it does offer additional paid services.

Downloading and Signing Up

Snapchat is completely free to download from the Apple App Store for iOS devices and Google Play Store for Android devices. After downloading the app, you can sign up for an account using your email address or phone number. The sign up process only takes a few minutes. You do not need to enter any payment information to create your account and start using the app.

Core Features

Once you’ve created your Snapchat account, you can start using the main features of the app for free. These core features include:

  • Sending photo and video snaps – You can take a new photo or video directly in the app or select one from your camera roll to send as a snap. You can overlay filters, lenses, stickers, text, and drawings.
  • Viewing snaps – You can view snaps sent to you by friends. The sender can choose how long you’re able to view it for, from 1 to 10 seconds, before it disappears.
  • Stories – You can post photos and videos to your Story that will remain viewable by friends for 24 hours. You can also view friends’ Stories.
  • Chat – You can use text chat or video chat with friends within the app.
  • Discover – Browse curated content from publishers, brands, and the Snapchat community.
  • Lenses – Use fun augmented reality lenses and filters to overlay effects on your face or surroundings.
  • Memories – Your Snaps are automatically saved to Memories so you can access and re-share them.

You get access to all of these features without paying anything when you first sign up.

Paid Services

While the main Snapchat app is free, there are some additional paid services available:

Snapchat+

Snapchat+ is a subscription plan that launched in 2022. It costs $3.99 per month and unlocks these bonus features:

  • Pin a friend as a #1 Best Friend so their stories show up higher in your feed.
  • See your orbital friends ranked by how often you interact.
  • Recall a sent Snap in case you want to edit and resend it.
  • Replay any Snap as often as you want.
  • Access an exclusive Snapchat+ pixel badge for your profile.

Snapchat+ is an optional upgrade and not required to use the app.

Snapchat Spectacles

Spectacles are Snapchat’s video-recording sunglasses. They cost $380-$380 and allow you to record Snaps hands-free from your point of view. This paid product simply enhances the Snapchat experience and is not necessary.

Sponsored Lenses and Filters

Companies can pay Snapchat to create sponsored lenses and filters that promote their brand. For example, a movie studio might pay to have a lens that turns your face into one of the movie characters. These cost extra to develop, so the sponsor pays, but any Snapchat user can access and use them for free.

Ads

Snapchat now includes ads in the Discover section and on the Stories page. Brands pay to promote their products through these ads, but users don’t pay anything additional to see them. They are just part of the free experience.

Conclusion

In summary, Snapchat is completely free to download and use with all of the core features like sending photo and video snaps, applying lenses, messaging friends, and more. While some bonus and accessory features like Snapchat+ or Spectacles cost extra, they are not at all necessary to enjoy the full Snapchat experience. The app will remain free, though it may continue adding paid options to unlock more specialized features. But the core Snapchat everyone knows and loves will always be free.

Snapchat Feature Free or Paid?
Downloading the app Free
Creating a user account Free
Sending/viewing disappearing photo and video messages Free
Sending messages and video chatting Free
Creating and sharing Stories Free
Using lenses and filters Free
Accessing Memories and Discover Free
Snapchat+ subscription Paid
Spectacles Paid
Sponsored lenses/filters Free
Watching ads Free

Comparisons to Other Platforms

Snapchat is very different from other major social platforms in that it does not rely on an advertising model that requires collecting and selling user data. Non-advertising based platforms include:

Facebook

Facebook is free to use, but makes money by selling ads targeted using your personal data and online activity.

Instagram

Owned by Facebook, Instagram relies on advertising revenue and collecting user data. Additional features require a paid subscription.

YouTube

YouTube offers a free ad-supported option, but you can pay to subscribe to YouTube Premium for an ad-free experience.

TikTok

Watching and posting short form videos on TikTok is free, but the app shows ads and collects data to personalize that advertising.

Future Outlook

Snapchat is expected to stick with its core model of offering free access to social messaging features. It may continue expanding its paid offerings to give hardcore users more options without limiting the experience for casual users.

The company needs to tread carefully – if Snapchat tries to monetize by including too many ads or selling data, it risks alienating its privacy-focused user base. But with 365 million monthly active users and growing, Snapchat has clearly found a sweet spot that appeals to its young demographic.

As long as Snapchat can maintain user growth without compromising the freedom and privacy its users expect, it should be able to sustain its model as a popular free social app. Advertising revenue remains minimal, with the bulk of its income coming from the newer paid services.

The differentiating factor is that Snapchat gives users control over what data they share – a refreshing change from platforms relying on collecting as much private data as possible. Snapchat’s commitment to this user-first approach is why the core product will remain free.

Conclusion

Snapchat offers a unique and enjoyable social media experience centered around fugitive messaging. The ability to communicate visually with fun effects and spontaneity has made it a hit with younger demographics. Crucially, Snapchat provides this service entirely for free, setting it apart from other social platforms that rely on collecting data or running ads. While Snapchat may continue to expand its paid features and offerings, the core Snapchat app promises to remain free. This allows anyone to enjoy the main features without payment, ads, or giving up their personal privacy.