What is Snapchat Plus? The Complete Guide to Snap's Premium Subscription Service

Introduction: The Evolution of Snapchat

In the ever-evolving landscape of social media platforms, Snapchat has consistently been at the forefront of innovation since its launch in 2011. Known for pioneering disappearing content, augmented reality filters, and Stories format (later adopted by virtually every other social platform), Snapchat has maintained its unique position in the social media ecosystem despite fierce competition.

However, like many tech companies facing revenue challenges and market pressures, Snapchat's parent company Snap Inc. recognized the need to diversify its income streams beyond traditional advertising. This strategic shift led to the introduction of Snapchat Plus (also written as Snapchat+ or Snap+) in June 2022 – the platform's first subscription-based service offering premium features to its most engaged users.

Today, we're diving deep into everything you need to know about Snapchat Plus: what it is, what features it offers, how much it costs, whether it's worth subscribing to, and how it compares to the free version of the app millions continue to use daily.

What is Snapchat Plus?

Snapchat Plus is a premium subscription service offered by Snap Inc. that provides subscribers with exclusive, experimental, and pre-release features not available to regular Snapchat users. Launched initially in select markets before expanding globally, Snapchat Plus represents the company's venture into the subscription economy, following the lead of other social platforms like Twitter (now X) with Twitter Blue and Telegram Premium.

At its core, Snapchat Plus is designed for the platform's most dedicated users – those who want enhanced functionality, greater customization options, and exclusive capabilities that extend beyond the standard Snapchat experience. It doesn't remove ads from the platform (an important distinction from some other subscription services), but instead focuses on providing value through unique features and personalization options.

The subscription service allows Snap to generate additional revenue while giving its most enthusiastic users more ways to express themselves and enhance their experience on the platform. It also serves as a testing ground for new features that may eventually roll out to the broader user base.

Snapchat Plus Key Features

Since its launch, Snapchat Plus has continued to expand its portfolio of premium features. Here's a comprehensive breakdown of what subscribers get access to:

Priority Story Replies

One of the most appealing features for active social media users is priority placement for replies to Stories from public figures, creators, and celebrities. When subscribers comment on Stories from verified accounts, their messages appear more prominently in the creator's inbox, increasing the chances of getting a response. This feature appeals strongly to users who enjoy interacting with their favorite content creators and want their voice to stand out among thousands of other comments.

Custom App Appearance

Snapchat Plus subscribers gain access to exclusive app icons and themes that allow for greater personalization of the Snapchat experience. Users can choose from various icon designs to customize how the app appears on their home screen and select from exclusive theme options within the app itself. While purely aesthetic, these customization options appeal to users who value expressing their individuality through their digital presence.

Friend Solar System

This unique feature visualizes your Snapchat relationships in an engaging way. The Friend Solar System places you at the center (as the Sun) with your closest friends orbiting around you as planets. The proximity of these "planets" is determined by how frequently you interact with each friend. It's both a fun visualization and a useful way to track your most important Snapchat relationships over time.

Ghost Trails on the Map

For users who frequently use Snapchat's Map feature to keep up with friends' locations, Ghost Trails shows the path a friend has taken over the past 24 hours (when they've chosen to share their location). This feature adds a layer of context to the standard location sharing, allowing you to see not just where someone is currently, but where they've been recently—enhancing coordination for meetups or simply satisfying curiosity about friends' movements.

Story Rewatch Indicator

This feature allows subscribers to see who has rewatched their Stories. While standard Snapchat shows you who has viewed your Story, Snapchat Plus takes this a step further by indicating which viewers were engaged enough to watch it multiple times. For content creators and those curious about how their content resonates, this provides valuable engagement insights.

Custom Notification Sounds

Subscribers can set different notification sounds for different friends, making it easier to know who's reaching out without checking the phone. This simple but effective personalization feature helps prioritize notifications in an era of constant digital communication.

Post View Emoji

This feature lets subscribers select a custom emoji that recipients will see after viewing their Snaps. It's a small but personal touch that adds another layer of self-expression to the platform's communication style.

Best Friends Pinning

While regular Snapchat automatically determines your "Best Friends" based on interaction frequency, Snapchat Plus allows you to pin up to eight friends to the top of your chat list for easy access, regardless of how often you interact with them. This provides greater control over your communication priorities.

Snap Map Location History

Subscribers can review their own location history on the Snap Map, seeing a private view of places they've visited. This serves as both a personal journal and a practical way to retrace steps or remember visited locations.

Custom Chat Wallpapers

This feature allows subscribers to set unique backgrounds for individual chat conversations, adding visual distinction between different chat threads and personalizing the messaging experience.

Bitmoji Backgrounds

Premium subscribers get access to exclusive backgrounds for their Bitmoji avatar, enabling more creative profile pictures and representations across the platform.

Story Expiration Controls

Unlike standard Snapchat where Stories automatically disappear after 24 hours, Snapchat Plus subscribers can set custom expiration times for their Stories, ranging from one hour to several days, offering greater flexibility for content visibility.

Direction Effect

This feature adds motion to your Snaps based on how you move your phone, creating dynamic content that responds to physical movement for more engaging and interactive photo and video sharing.

Early Access to Experimental Features

Perhaps most valuable to tech enthusiasts, Snapchat Plus subscribers get early access to new features being tested before they potentially roll out to the broader user base. This "beta tester" status appeals to users who enjoy being on the cutting edge of technology.

AI-Powered Capabilities

With the integration of Snapchat's AI features, Plus subscribers get priority access to My AI customization options and enhanced AI-powered creative tools that continue to evolve with each update.

How Much Does Snapchat Plus Cost?

Snapchat Plus uses a tiered subscription model with options for monthly, semi-annual, or annual commitments:

• Monthly subscription: $3.99 per month
• 6-month subscription: $21.99 ($3.67 per month, saving approximately 8%)
• Annual subscription: $39.99 ($3.33 per month, saving approximately 16%)

These prices reflect the U.S. market as of April 2025, though they may vary slightly by region due to currency differences and local market factors. Compared to other social media subscription offerings, Snapchat Plus is positioned as a relatively affordable option, with Twitter Blue/X Premium typically costing around $8-11 monthly and Telegram Premium at approximately $4.99 monthly.

The subscription can be managed and canceled through your app store account (Google Play Store for Android users or Apple App Store for iOS users), and payment is processed through these platforms rather than directly through Snapchat.

Who is Snapchat Plus For?

While any Snapchat user can subscribe to Snapchat Plus, the service is particularly appealing to certain user segments:

Power Users

Those who use Snapchat as their primary social communication platform multiple times daily and want to maximize their experience with additional features and customization options.

Content Creators

Users who regularly post Stories and want deeper insights into engagement metrics, such as rewatch counts, and priority placement when communicating with larger creators.

Privacy-Conscious Users

People who appreciate additional controls over content expiration, location sharing history, and other privacy-related settings that come with the premium tier.

Early Adopters

Tech enthusiasts who enjoy testing new features before they're widely available and don't mind paying for the privilege of being first to experience innovations.

Friend Group Coordinators

Users who maintain large Snapchat networks and value organizational tools like Best Friend pinning and custom notification sounds to manage their digital social life more effectively.

Snapchat Plus vs. Free Snapchat: What's the Difference?

To better understand the value proposition of Snapchat Plus, it's helpful to compare it directly with the standard free version of the app:

Core Functionality

Both versions offer the fundamental Snapchat experience: sending disappearing photos and videos, creating Stories, using filters and lenses, chatting with friends, and accessing the Discover section. The basic communication features remain identical.

Advertising Experience

Unlike some premium subscriptions on other platforms, Snapchat Plus does not remove advertisements. Users will still see ads in Stories, Discover, and other sections of the app regardless of subscription status.

Feature Availability

The primary difference lies in access to the exclusive features detailed earlier. While free users can still enjoy a fully functional social experience, Plus subscribers gain additional tools for personalization, insights, and enhanced interaction options.

Privacy and Control

While both versions maintain Snapchat's signature privacy-focused approach, Plus subscribers gain additional controls over content expiration, location history, and other settings that provide incrementally more control over their digital footprint.

Updates and New Features

Both versions receive regular updates and security patches, but Plus subscribers get earlier access to experimental features being tested before potential wider release.

Is Snapchat Plus Worth It? Evaluating the Value Proposition

The question of whether Snapchat Plus offers sufficient value to justify its subscription cost depends heavily on how you use the platform and what you value in your social media experience. Here's an evaluation of different perspectives:

For Casual Users

For those who open Snapchat occasionally to check friends' updates or send the occasional Snap, the free version likely provides everything needed. The premium features, while nice, won't significantly enhance an already minimal usage pattern.

For Daily Active Users

Those who use Snapchat daily but primarily for basic communication might find some value in features like custom notification sounds and chat backgrounds, but might not utilize enough of the premium offerings to justify the monthly expense.

For Social Media Enthusiasts

Users who maintain active presences across multiple platforms and use Snapchat as one of their primary communication tools will likely find several features compelling, particularly the enhanced customization options and insight tools.

For Privacy-Focused Users

The additional controls over content expiration and location tracking history may provide sufficient value for privacy-conscious users who want to maintain greater control over their digital footprint.

For Creators and Influencers

Those building a presence on Snapchat will benefit most from features like Story rewatch indicators and priority replies, as these provide valuable engagement insights and enhanced opportunities for networking with larger creators.

The Business Strategy Behind Snapchat Plus

Snapchat Plus represents an important business strategy shift for Snap Inc. amid increasing competition and advertising market challenges. Understanding this context helps frame why the service exists and how it might evolve:

Revenue Diversification

By introducing a subscription service, Snap reduces its near-total dependence on advertising revenue—a crucial move in an environment where privacy changes (particularly Apple's App Tracking Transparency) have made targeted advertising more challenging and less profitable.

User Segmentation

The subscription tier allows Snap to identify and cater to its most engaged and invested users, potentially opening opportunities for more targeted features and experiences for different user segments.

Testing Ground

Snapchat Plus serves as a controlled environment where new features can be tested with paying users before potentially being rolled out more broadly, reducing development risks and costs.

Competitive Response

With other social platforms introducing subscription tiers, Snapchat Plus allows Snap to keep pace with industry trends and avoid being perceived as offering fewer options than competitors.

Future Growth Vector

As user growth naturally slows for mature social platforms, increasing average revenue per user through subscriptions offers a path to continued financial growth even with a relatively stable user base.

How to Sign Up for Snapchat Plus

The subscription process is straightforward for current Snapchat users:

1. Open your profile: Tap your Bitmoji or profile icon in the top left corner of the Snapchat camera screen
2. Access Snapchat+ section: Look for the Snapchat+ banner or card in your profile page
3. Review subscription options: Choose between monthly, semi-annual, or annual billing
4. Complete purchase: Confirm payment through your device's app store
5. Activate features: Once subscribed, new features will become immediately available in the app

New users will need to first create a standard Snapchat account before being able to upgrade to Snapchat Plus.

Frequently Asked Questions About Snapchat Plus

Does Snapchat Plus remove ads?

No, unlike some premium subscriptions on other platforms, Snapchat Plus does not remove advertisements from the user experience. Subscribers will continue to see ads in Stories, Discover, and other sections of the app.

Can I share Snapchat Plus features with friends?

Most Snapchat Plus features are exclusive to the subscriber's account and cannot be shared. However, features like custom chat backgrounds will be visible to friends when they interact with a subscriber's account.

Is there a free trial for Snapchat Plus?

Snap occasionally offers limited-time free trials for Snapchat Plus, typically ranging from 7 to 30 days. Availability varies by region and promotional periods.

Can I cancel my subscription anytime?

Yes, subscribers can cancel their Snapchat Plus subscription at any time through their device's app store subscription management settings. Service continues until the end of the current billing period.

Do Snapchat Plus features work across platforms?

Yes, once subscribed, Snapchat Plus features are tied to your account rather than your device, so they will be available whether you access Snapchat from iOS or Android devices.

Will more features be added to Snapchat Plus?

Snap has consistently added new features to the Snapchat Plus subscription since its launch, suggesting that subscribers can expect continued expansion of premium capabilities over time.

The Future of Snapchat Plus

As Snapchat Plus continues to evolve, several trends and possibilities seem likely based on Snap's development patterns and broader industry direction:

Expanded AI Integration

With Snap heavily investing in AI technology, Plus subscribers will likely see more advanced AI-powered creative tools, customization options, and possibly AI-enhanced analytics for their content performance.

Enhanced Creator Tools

As creator economies become more important across social platforms, Snapchat Plus will likely introduce more features designed specifically for content creators looking to build audiences and potentially monetize their presence.

Additional Tier Options

Following models seen on other platforms, Snap may eventually introduce multiple subscription tiers at different price points with varying feature sets to appeal to different user segments.

Interactive Features

Snap's expertise in augmented reality suggests future Plus features might include more advanced AR capabilities, potentially including exclusive AR experiences or enhanced tools for creating custom AR content.

Community-Specific Benefits

To enhance the value proposition, Snap might introduce community benefits like exclusive events, collaborations, or early access to partnerships with brands and creators for Plus subscribers.

Conclusion: Is Snapchat Plus Right for You?

Snapchat Plus represents Snap's entry into the subscription economy, offering dedicated users enhanced features, greater personalization, and early access to innovations for a modest monthly fee. While not radically transforming the core Snapchat experience, it adds meaningful enhancements for those who use the platform regularly.

For casual users, the free version of Snapchat continues to offer a complete social experience with all the core functionality that made the platform popular. For power users, content creators, and those who value customization and additional insights, the subscription may well be worth the price—particularly with the discount offered on annual plans.

As social media continues to evolve from purely ad-supported models toward hybrid approaches that include direct user revenue, services like Snapchat Plus offer a glimpse into how platforms will increasingly segment their offerings to cater to different user needs and willingness to pay.

Whether you decide to subscribe or stick with the free version, Snapchat remains focused on its core mission of connecting friends through visual, ephemeral communication—now with more options for those who want an enhanced experience.