Snap Inc., the company behind Snapchat, has announced that its popular Memories feature will no longer offer unlimited free storage. Since its launch in 2016, users have been able to save endless photos and videos, but now the free option will be limited to 5GB. The decision has sparked criticism online, with many saying that Snapchat is putting a price on personal digital memories that were free for nine years.
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Under the new policy, only those who save more than 5GB of content will be affected, as Snapchat claims most users store much less. Still, critics believe the move could set a worrying trend where tech companies begin charging for access to personal archives.
For those who need more space, Snapchat has introduced paid subscription plans. The basic storage plan offers 100GB for $1.99 per month, while Snapchat+ subscribers paying $3.99 per month will get 250GB. A Platinum tier has also been launched, priced at $15.99 per month, with 5TB of storage.
Although Snap says these plans are affordable, many users see them as a strategy to monetize essential features, potentially alienating young users who may not be able to afford extra costs.
To help with the transition, Snapchat is allowing users who have already crossed the 5GB limit to keep their extra storage for one year. However, many fear this is just a temporary fix that will push them toward paid plans once the grace period ends.
The change comes as part of Snap’s broader push to grow its paid services, including the recent launch of Lens+, a $9 monthly subscription for advanced AR features.
