Snapchat is putting a cap on free Memories storage after nearly a decade of keeping your snaps and videos safe in the cloud. Free access will now be limited to 5GB. If your saved Memories go beyond that, you’ll need to move to a paid plan to keep everything backed up.
Here’s how the new Memories storage options stack up:
– Free: 5GB
– 100GB plan: $1.99 per month
– Snapchat+ plan: Up to 250GB for $3.99 per month
– Snapchat Platinum: 5TB for $15.99 per month
Snapchat says it didn’t anticipate Memories growing as big as it has—users have saved over 1 trillion Memories. The company acknowledged the shift from free to paid isn’t easy, but says the change will help fund improvements to the feature for everyone.
If you’re over the 5GB limit, there’s a 12-month grace period of temporary storage for the excess. You can also download your Memories directly to your device at any time. If you choose not to subscribe and remain over the limit, Snapchat will keep your oldest Snaps and delete the most recent ones that exceed the storage cap.
According to the company, most people won’t be affected because the vast majority of users have less than 5GB of Memories. The update mainly impacts those with thousands of saved Snaps.
Why this matters: Introducing paid storage helps Snapchat manage rising infrastructure costs while keeping the core experience free for most users. Heavy savers get options for more space without compromising the platform’s performance.
What you can do now:
– Check how much storage your Memories are using
– Download important Memories to your device for safekeeping
– Clean up duplicates or unwanted clips to stay under 5GB
– Choose a storage plan that fits your library size if you regularly save lots of Snaps
Bottom line: If you rely on Memories as a long-term archive, review your storage soon. With tiers starting at $1.99 per month and higher limits for Snapchat+ and Platinum, there are options to keep your entire history intact while the free plan remains enough for most users.
