Snapchat Plus is an optional subscription plan that Snapchat launched in June 2022. It offers exclusive features not available to regular Snapchat users, such as the ability to change the app icon, see who rewatched your stories, and more. Here’s a detailed look at what Snapchat Plus offers and whether it’s worth subscribing.
What features do you get with Snapchat Plus?
Here are the key features included with a Snapchat Plus subscription:
- Custom App Icons – Choose from a selection of cute and colorful icons to personalize your Snapchat app.
- Custom Story Reactions – Unlock exclusive emojis and vibes to react to friends’ stories beyond the standard heart, laugh, etc.
- Snapchat+ Badge – Display an exclusive Snapchat+ badge in your profile so friends know you have access to premium features.
- Rewatch Indicator – See how many times your friends have rewatched your stories and vice versa.
- Priority Story Replies – Your replies will be more visible to friends when reacting to stories.
- Post View Emoji – Choose a custom emoji that friends will see after viewing your snaps.
- BFF finder – See your “Best Friends” ranked and find out who you chat with the most on Snapchat.
On top of these bonuses, Snapchat Plus also promises early access to experimental features they are testing out.
How much does Snapchat Plus cost?
Snapchat Plus costs $3.99 per month in the United States. Here’s how the pricing breaks down:
- 1 month – $3.99
- 6 months – $19.99 (saves $4)
- 12 months – $34.99 (saves $12)
So the longer subscription you purchase, the more you save. For comparison, Snapchat’s regular subscription service Snapchat Premium costs $4.99 per month.
Is Snapchat Plus worth it?
Whether Snapchat Plus is “worth it” depends on how often you use Snapchat and if the exclusive perks appeal to you. Here are some pros and cons to help decide if it’s worth subscribing.
Pros
- Custom app icons add personality to Snapchat.
- Seeing who rewatched Stories and priority replies can improve engagement.
- Unlocking special reactions and emojis enhances chatting.
- Early access to new experimental features.
- Cheaper than Snapchat Premium at $3.99/month.
Cons
- Doesn’t offer radically new or essential features.
- Some features focus on vanity metrics vs. useful tools.
- Still have to watch 6 ads per day like free users.
- $3.99/month subscription fee adds up over time.
Overall, Snapchat Plus offers some fun perks if you enjoy customizing Snapchat and engaging with friends more. But for many users, it may not be compelling enough to spend $4 per month regularly. It doesn’t unlock ads or offer “must have” functionality.
How popular is Snapchat Plus so far?
Snapchat hasn’t released official user numbers for Snapchat Plus yet. However, early estimates indicate it has picked up moderate traction:
- Within 24 hours of launch, over 125,000 users in the UK subscribed according to app data site SensorTower.
- Snapchat Plus ranked #1 in iOS Top Grossing apps briefly after launching.
- App analytics firm Apptopia estimates over 750,000 global downloads in first month.
- Still, only about 0.44% of Snapchat’s daily active users have subscribed so far according to Apptopia.
Here is a table summarizing the limited data on Snapchat Plus’ popularity so far:
| Metric | Statistic |
|---|---|
| UK subscribers in first 24 hours | 125,000 (SensorTower) |
| Global downloads in first month | Over 750,000 (Apptopia) |
| % of daily active users subscribed | 0.44% (Apptopia) |
Considering Snapchat has over 332 million daily active users, the subscriber numbers indicate Snapchat Plus is off to a relatively slow start. But the app likely hopes these premium features will catch on more over time as they market it.
How does Snapchat Plus compare to Snapchat Premium?
Snapchat Premium is Snapchat’s more expensive subscription that removes ads, allows you to change your Snapchat handle, and adds some bonuses like prioritized support. Here’s how Snapchat Plus and Premium stack up:
| Feature | Snapchat Plus | Snapchat Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month | $3.99 | $4.99 |
| No ads | No | Yes |
| Custom app icons | Yes | No |
| Custom Snapchat handle | No | Yes |
| Priority support | No | Yes |
As you can see, Snapchat Plus focuses more on social features and personalization while Premium removes ads and offers account-level perks. Snapchat Plus also costs $1 less per month.
What features may come in the future?
Snapchat hasn’t announced upcoming features for Snapchat Plus yet. But based on the current lineup, some possibilities for future additions could include:
- More personalized Snapchat lenses and AR filters
- Fun voice-changing filters for Snapchat videos
- Access to more bitmoji backgrounds and stickers
- Profile customization like fonts and color themes
- Ability to pin or favorite conversations
- Advanced analytics like demographics of your audience
It seems Snapchat Plus will continue focusing on personalization, utility for content creators, and bonus social features vs. removing ads or account changes like Premium.
Does Snapchat Plus include a free trial?
Yes, Snapchat offers a free 1-week trial of Snapchat Plus. To sign up:
- Open the Snapchat app and go to your profile
- Tap the Snapchat Plus icon in the top corner
- Select “Try It Free” and enter your App Store payment info
You’ll then have full access to Snapchat Plus features for 7 days. You can cancel anytime before the free trial ends to avoid being charged.
Can you get Snapchat Plus on Android?
Snapchat Plus is currently only available for iOS devices. The subscription plan hasn’t been launched for Android mobile devices yet.
Snapchat has said they are “working on an Android version” but hasn’t provided timing for its release. So for now, Android users won’t have access to the new Snapchat Plus features.
Is Snapchat Plus worth upgrading from a free account?
For most users, Snapchat Plus doesn’t offer enough bonus features yet to warrant paying a monthly fee. The social and customization perks are fun but not essential.
However, if you use Snapchat as your main social media app to engage friends daily, the exclusive reactions, viewership metrics, and personalization extras may enhance your experience. Snapchat “creators” who post content frequently may find the most benefit.
Could Snapchat Plus features become free in the future?
There is a possibility Snapchat may bundle some Snapchat Plus features into the free version eventually. However, it’s unlikely they would make everything free and eliminate their new subscription revenue stream.
Social media apps like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok have seen success in launching “creator” subscription plans with exclusive features. Snapchat is likely experimenting to see which premium tools resonate most before potentially offering certain addons for free to boost user growth and retention.
Conclusion
Snapchat Plus offers some intriguing bonuses like customized icons, seeing who rewatched your stories, and premium messaging reactions. But the $3.99 per month subscription may only hold appeal for Snapchat’s most avid users.
For the average person who just wants to chat with friends and doesn’t post content daily, Snapchat Plus doesn’t feel like a must-have upgrade yet. Its social and vanity features are fun extras but not essential to the core Snapchat experience.
As Snapchat expands Snapchat Plus with more perks, squeezes more value from its ad business, and finds ways to synergize with Premium, more users may see it as a worthwhile indulgence. But in these early days, Snapchat still has work to do convincing the masses to pay for a “freemium” social app.