Snapchat Plus is a new optional subscription plan that unlocks exclusive features in Snapchat. It was first announced and rolled out in June 2022. So yes, Snapchat Plus is a paid subscription offered by Snapchat.
What is Snapchat Plus?
Snapchat Plus is a $3.99 per month subscription that gives Snapchat users access to exclusive features not available to regular users. The subscription plan was first tested in select markets in late 2021 before rolling out more widely in June 2022.
Snapchat Plus aims to provide premium features to Snapchat’s most enthusiastic and engaged users. It does not contain ads and does not unlock additional filters. Rather, it offers exclusive capabilities not available without a paid subscription.
Key Features
Here are some of the key features included with a Snapchat Plus subscription:
- Pin a friend as a “#1 BFF” – This pins one friend to the top of your chat list for easy access.
- See your orbit with BFF map – View your friends’ locations on a map over the last 24 hours.
- Re-do send button – Lets you fix any mistakes before sending Snaps.
- Custom Snapchat icons – Change your profile icon to reflect your mood.
- Display Time – See how long your friends have been viewing your stories.
- Priority Story Replies – Your replies will be more visible to friends.
Snapchat may continue adding and tweaking features for Snapchat+ subscribers over time. But the above provide the core capabilities for now beyond the standard Snapchat experience.
Who Can Get Snapchat Plus?
Snapchat Plus is an optional subscription only available to current Snapchat users. You must have an existing Snapchat account to sign up for Snapchat Plus.
Snapchat Plus is available on both iOS and Android devices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Snapchat plans to expand availability to more countries over time.
How Much Does Snapchat Plus Cost?
Snapchat Plus costs $3.99 per month in the United States. The price may vary slightly in other countries based on local currencies and taxes. But the monthly price generally remains around $4 USD or the equivalent in each market where it’s available.
There are also discounted options if you pay for an annual plan upfront. The cost for 12 months of Snapchat+ is $39.99 USD. That works out to around $3.33 per month for the annual subscription.
How to Get Snapchat Plus
Getting Snapchat Plus is easy if you already have a Snapchat account and live in an eligible country. Just follow these steps:
- Open the Snapchat app on your iPhone or Android.
- Tap your profile icon in the top left corner.
- Scroll down and tap the Snapchat+ section.
- Select “Try Snapchat+” and pick your plan.
- Enter your payment method and follow the on-screen prompts.
After subscribing, you can immediately access the Snapchat Plus features. Use the Snapchat+ menu tab to explore and manage your membership settings.
Does Snapchat Plus Include More Filters?
No, Snapchat Plus does not unlock additional filters. The optional subscription focuses more on exclusive features rather than expanding the existing arsenal of lenses and filters.
All Snapchat users, whether paid subscribers or not, have access to the same filters, lenses, and other creative tools. These options are updated and added to regularly for all users to enjoy.
What Happens If You Cancel Snapchat Plus?
If you cancel your Snapchat Plus subscription, you immediately lose access to the exclusive subscriber-only features. However, your account otherwise remains unchanged.
You keep your Snaps, Chats, Stories, Memories, and other account data. Your friends list and settings are unaffected. You simply revert to a free regular Snapchat account without the bonus capabilities offered through Snapchat Plus.
Can You Gift Snapchat Plus?
Unfortunately, Snapchat Plus cannot be gifted at this time. The subscription is limited to your own individual account. There is no option to pay for someone else to get Snapchat Plus.
Snapchat has not indicated any plans to allow Snapchat Plus gift subscriptions in the future. For now, each user must pay for their own subscription individually.
Does Snapchat Plus Include Streak Saver?
No, Snapchat Plus does not offer a “Snap Streak Saver” feature. Snap Streaks still require you to send a Snap to each friend within 24 hours or the streak will be lost, the same as with the free version.
Snapchat may consider adding a Snap Streak preservation feature to Snapchat Plus in the future. But for now, subscribers must still actively maintain all streaks daily or see them disappear after missing 24 hours.
Can You Try Snapchat Plus Free?
There is not currently a free trial for Snapchat Plus. The only way to access the exclusive subscriber features is by paying for either a monthly or annual plan.
Snapchat occasionally offers promotional discounts, such as one month free. This provides a limited-time ability to test out Snapchat Plus without charge. But there is no permanent or ongoing free trial option.
You must start paying the Snapchat Plus subscription fee immediately to maintain ongoing access to the extra capabilities it unlocks.
Conclusion
Snapchat Plus is a new $3.99 per month subscription service that provides exclusive features not available on the standard free Snapchat platform. It does not affect Snapchat’s core messaging and creative tools, which all users can still access.
The optional subscription aims to enhance the experience for Snapchat’s most loyal users. Time will tell if the extra capabilities prove popular and worthwhile among the Snapchat community.
But for now, Snapchat Plus remains an opt-in supplemental subscription, not a replacement or alteration of Snapchat’s core functionalities. Those remain freely available to all users as Snapchat continues its quest to reinvent the way people communicate visually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Snapchat Plus worth it?
Whether Snapchat Plus is worth it depends on each individual user and how much they would utilize the exclusive features. For very active Snapchat users, the extra capabilities like seeing friend locations, pinning favorites, and display time may provide meaningful value for the $4 monthly cost. More casual users may not find enough usefulness from Snapchat Plus to justify the ongoing subscription.
What countries is Snapchat Plus available in?
As of October 2022, Snapchat Plus is available in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Snapchat plans future expansion to additional countries over time.
Can families share a Snapchat Plus subscription?
No, Snapchat Plus cannot be shared across accounts. The subscription is limited to the individual user who purchased it. There is no option for families or groups to share access to a single Snapchat Plus membership.
Does Snapchat Plus include more replay ability?
No, Snapchat Plus does not expand the number of replays allowed. All users, whether subscribed or not, have the same standard one-time replay capability per Snap. Snapchat Plus does not impact the replay limits in any way.
Can Snapchat Plus be purchased as a gift?
Unfortunately Snapchat Plus cannot yet be gifted. Each user must purchase their own personal subscription. Snapchat has not indicated when or if gift subscriptions may become available for Snapchat Plus.
Will a Snapchat Plus subscription auto-renew?
Yes, Snapchat Plus subscriptions will auto-renew by default when purchased. You can opt out of auto-renewal by managing your subscription settings. Otherwise, Snapchat Plus will automatically renew each month or year depending on your plan.
Can Snapchat Plus be shared across multiple devices?
Yes, the Snapchat Plus features can be accessed across multiple devices as long as you are logged into the same Snapchat account. The subscription is tied to your user account, not any specific device.
Comparison of Snapchat Free vs. Snapchat Plus
| Feature | Snapchat Free | Snapchat Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Pin a #1 Best Friend | ❌ | ✅ |
| BFF Map | ❌ | ✅ |
| Re-do Button | ❌ | ✅ |
| Custom Icons | ❌ | ✅ |
| Display Time | ❌ | ✅ |
| Priority Replies | ❌ | ✅ |
| Ads | ✅ | ❌ |
This table summarizes the key differences in features between the free regular version of Snapchat and the new optional Snapchat Plus subscription.
Snapchat Plus Revenue Projections
Snapchat has not released any official revenue projections or subscriber goals for Snapchat Plus. However, based on Snapchat’s existing user base, we can make some educated guesses at the revenue potential.
As of Q2 2022, Snapchat reported having 347 million daily active users globally. Snapchat Plus costs $3.99 per month in the United States, let’s assume an average revenue per user (ARPU) of $4 globally based on cost variances in different countries.
If just 10% of Snapchat’s 347 million users subscribed to Snapchat Plus, that would equate to 34.7 million subscribers globally.
At $4 ARPU, 34.7 million subscribers would generate approximately $138.8 million per month in revenue from Snapchat Plus subscriptions alone. Or over $1.6 billion annually.
Of course, the actual conversion rate to Snapchat Plus will likely be far below 10% of users. But the findings illustrate the sizable revenue potential if Snapchat Plus gains even a small foothold in Snapchat’s massive user base.
Early estimates indicate Snapchat Plus has already converted over 1 million subscribers in the first month since launch. If that adoption curve continues, Snapchat Plus revenue could quickly reach into the hundreds of millions annually.
Snapchat will be hoping the new subscription can represent a meaningful new revenue stream as it works towards profitability. Time will tell just how many users ultimately find enough value to pay for Snapchat Plus.
Projected Annual Revenue for Snapchat Plus
| Snapchat Plus Subscribers | Annual Revenue (at $4 ARPU) |
|---|---|
| 1 million | $48 million |
| 5 million | $240 million |
| 10 million | $480 million |
| 25 million | $1.2 billion |
This table shows hypothetical Snapchat Plus subscription and revenue totals based on varying adoption levels. Actual results remain to be seen.
Snapchat User Statistics and Demographics
Here is a closer look at key statistics and demographics for Snapchat’s current user base, which represents the potential market for Snapchat Plus subscriptions.
- Daily active users: 347 million globally (Q2 2022)
- Regions with most users: North America and Europe
- Gender: 62% of users are female, 38% male (2022 est.)
- Age groups:
- 13-17: 22.2% of users
- 18-24: 47.1% of users
- 25-34: 19.7% of users
- 35-44: 7.5% of users
- 45+: 3.5% of users
- Time spent per day: Over 30 minutes for over 85% of users
Key takeaways are Snapchat’s massive global reach, particularly among younger demographics who use the app extensively each day. These engaged, frequent users are likely to be top targets for converting to paid Snapchat Plus subscribers.
Expert Opinions on Snapchat Plus
Here are some reactions to Snapchat Plus from industry experts and analysts:
Social Media Consultant
“Snapchat is smart to start offering exclusive features for a paid tier of top fans. This gives their most loyal users, who likely use Snapchat as their primary communication app, some bonus capabilities to enhance that experience. I could see Snapchat rolling out additional subscription features over time if Plus takes off.”
Mobile App Analyst
“On first glance, Snapchat Plus feels a little light on value compared to some other social media subscription offerings like Twitter Blue. But Snapchat has executed well on innovating new features and capabilities historically. If they keep iterating, Snapchat Plus could become a steady revenue generator, even if it only converts single-digit percentages of users.”
AR Advertising Expert
“Snapchat Plus isn’t going to drastically change Snapchat’s business model overnight. But it provides a framework to incrementally add paid features that resonate with their power users. And it gives brands and marketers a new way to identify and target Snapchat’s most avid audience if they want to pay to promote to that subscriber base.”
Early expert opinion seems to view Snapchat Plus as an incremental test by Snapchat, with potential to expand in value and subscribers over time. It diversifies Snapchat’s revenue sources while augmenting the experience for dedicated users.
The Future of Snapchat Plus
Snapchat Plus is still in the very early stages, having only launched in June 2022. It remains to be seen how many users will deem the current feature set worth a paid subscription.
But the framework now exists for Snapchat to continually test and expand its premium offerings over time. There are endless possibilities for exclusive features Snapchat could add to the Plus lineup based on user feedback.
Potential future features Snapchat Plus could include are:
- Unlimited chat replays
- Additional Bitmoji customization
- Creative tools like custom drawings/stickers
- Augmented reality try-on capabilities
- Special Snapchat avatars or verified badges
Snapchat has proven adept at innovating new capabilities and experiences to keep users engaged. Applying that mindset to a premium subscription plan provides lots of room for growth and value creation.
For any social platform, the most effective premium features are those desired by current highly active users. Snapchat will be able to study Plus usage and feedback to refine the offering over time to maximize perceived value.
The next 1-2 years will be crucial for demonstrating whether Snapchat Plus can evolve into a substantial new line of business, or if it remains a niche supplement. But the potential is certainly there for Snapchat Plus to become a financial pillar as subscriptions diversify Snapchat’s revenue mix.
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