For almost a decade, Snapchat has been more than just a camera app — it’s been a digital time capsule of our lives. From late-night selfies to milestone memories, users have trusted Snapchat’s Memories feature to store countless moments safely in the cloud. But things are about to change.
In a move that’s causing waves across its global community, Snapchat announced that it will begin charging users for storage beyond 5GB, marking a significant shift in how it handles personal content storage.
This change essentially means that if your saved Memories exceed the new 5GB limit, you’ll either need to start paying for additional storage or export your Snaps manually to keep them free.
If you’re wondering how to save your Snaps without paying a dime, this guide will walk you through every free method available to preserve your Snapchat Memories before they vanish into digital oblivion.
What’s Changing in Snapchat’s Storage Policy
Snapchat confirmed through an email to TechCrunch that it will soon cap free Memories storage at 5GB for every account. Users who cross that limit will need to upgrade to a paid plan or risk losing some of their stored content.
Here’s the breakdown of Snapchat’s new Memories Storage Plans:
- Free Plan: 5GB storage limit
- Introductory Plan: 100GB for $1.99/month
- Snapchat+ Plan: 250GB for $3.99/month
- Snapchat Platinum Plan: 5TB for $15.99/month
If you exceed your limit and don’t subscribe, Snapchat will automatically delete your most recent Snaps first while keeping the oldest ones — an unusual but strategic move to preserve your early memories.
The company is also offering 12 months of temporary storage for users who exceed the limit, giving everyone time to decide whether to pay for more space or move their data elsewhere.
Why Snapchat Is Making This Change
Snapchat’s decision to monetize storage follows a growing trend among tech platforms seeking new revenue streams. Cloud storage isn’t cheap, especially for a platform that stores billions of high-resolution photos and videos daily.
By charging for storage, Snapchat aims to:
- Reduce server load caused by inactive accounts hoarding years of data.
- Generate recurring revenue similar to how Google Photos and iCloud operate.
- Encourage active user engagement rather than passive data hoarding.
- Support premium features for paying subscribers like Snapchat+ and Platinum.
While the reasoning is understandable, many users feel frustrated, particularly because Snapchat Memories has always been advertised as a free personal archive.
Also Read: Snapchat ASL Decoded: What Does ASL Mean Snapchat?
Two Free Ways to Save Snapchat Memories
Fortunately, you don’t need to pay Snapchat to keep your memories safe. The company still allows you to export or download your entire archive for free — you just need to know how.
Let’s explore the two official free methods that ensure your memories remain accessible.
1. Export Snapchat Memories to Your Device’s Camera Roll
If you’d like to personally manage your stored photos and videos, exporting them to your phone’s gallery or camera roll is the most direct solution.
Steps to Export Memories
- Open the Snapchat app on your device.
- Tap the Memories icon (located beside the camera button).
- In the Memories view, tap Select in the top-right corner.
- Choose up to 100 Memories at a time (Snapchat’s limit per batch).
- Tap Export at the bottom-right corner of the screen.
- Choose Download to save them directly to your camera roll.
Repeat this process as many times as needed until all desired Memories are saved.
Pros of This Method:
- Keeps all data accessible offline.
- Organizes your Snaps directly in your gallery.
- Doesn’t require external software or a computer.
Cons:
- Limited to 100 Memories per batch, which can be slow.
- Takes significant storage on your device if you have thousands of Snaps.
If your phone’s storage can handle it, this method is the most hands-on and secure way to maintain your memories for free.
2. Download All Snapchat Memories Using “Download My Data”
If you prefer to export everything at once — photos, videos, chat logs, and account data — Snapchat’s Download My Data tool is the best option. It sends you an email link to download all your Memories in a compressed .zip file.
Steps to Download Snapchat Data
- Open Snapchat and go to your Profile page.
- Tap the Settings gear icon (⚙️) in the top-right corner.
- Scroll down and select My Data.
- Choose Memories, HTML Files, and JSON Files (for easy browsing).
- Optional: Uncheck unnecessary data types to keep the file simple.
- Tap Next.
- When asked for a date range, choose All Time.
- Confirm your email address and tap Submit.
Snapchat will process your request and send you an email with a link to download your archive. Depending on how much data you have, this may take a few hours or days.
Pros of This Method:
- Retrieves everything in one go.
- Keeps metadata and timestamps intact.
- Compatible with both mobile and desktop systems.
Cons:
- Requires extraction from a .zip file.
- Files may not appear in the same visual order as they do in Memories.
Still, this method remains the most efficient way to preserve everything for free — ideal if you want a digital backup or plan to transfer your memories to another cloud service.
How Long Do You Have Before Losing Data?
Snapchat gives users 12 months to decide what to do once they cross the 5GB limit. During this period, all your existing data is stored temporarily, but any new Snaps may automatically delete the latest ones to maintain the limit.
It’s highly recommended to export or download your Memories before that grace period ends, especially if you’re not planning to subscribe.
What Happens If You Do Nothing
If you don’t act before the deadline:
- Snapchat will start deleting your newest Memories first.
- You might lose high-quality videos and daily Snaps from recent years.
- Recovering deleted content will be nearly impossible.
Essentially, inactivity could mean saying goodbye to parts of your personal history.
Also Read: Why Snapchat Bots are Dangerous for Gen-Z & Millennials, and How to Protect Them?
Snapchat+ and Platinum: Worth Paying For?
Snapchat’s new subscription tiers are designed for heavy users who don’t want to worry about export limits or file management.
- Snapchat+ ($3.99/month): Offers 250GB storage plus exclusive features like chat wallpapers, custom icons, and priority story replies.
- Snapchat Platinum ($15.99/month): Aimed at professionals or creators, this tier includes a massive 5TB of storage and premium support.
While these plans provide convenience, they’re not necessary if you just want to save your Memories without paying.
Think of these subscriptions as comfort plans — ideal for creators, not casual users.
Tips to Manage Your Memories Smartly
To avoid storage problems in the future, here are some useful habits to adopt:
- Regularly export new Snaps every few months.
- Use Google Photos or iCloud for long-term free backups.
- Delete duplicate or unnecessary Snaps to reduce clutter.
- Compress videos before uploading to alternative cloud drives.
- Label your folders clearly when exporting batches for easier navigation.
Doing this helps you maintain control without relying entirely on Snapchat’s system.
Snapchat’s Larger Strategy Behind This Move
This decision highlights Snapchat’s shift toward sustainable monetization — similar to Meta’s and Google’s approaches.
Instead of bombarding users with more ads, Snapchat is tapping into a utility-based model where storage becomes a premium service.
Analysts believe this could:
- Increase revenue from long-term users.
- Help Snapchat invest more in AI filters and AR experiences.
- Reduce costs from inactive accounts that consume cloud space.
In other words, while the update might frustrate some users, it could also help Snapchat stay competitive in a market dominated by TikTok and Instagram.
Final Thoughts
Snapchat’s decision to introduce storage limits marks the end of an era — but not your memories. With a few careful steps, you can save your entire Snapchat history for free before the 5GB cap locks you out.
Whether you choose to export batches to your phone or download everything at once, your cherished moments remain yours to keep.
For now, Snapchat is giving everyone time to adjust — so don’t delay. Start backing up today and ensure your digital memories live on safely, without paying a single rupee or dollar.
Also Read: Yellow Heart on Snapchat: Decoding the Emoji Language
FAQs
1. What is Snapchat Memories?
Snapchat Memories is a private, cloud-based archive where users save Snaps, Stories, and videos for later viewing or reposting.
2. What is the new free storage limit?
Each account now has a 5GB free limit for Memories.
3. What happens if I exceed the 5GB limit?
Your newest Snaps will start deleting automatically unless you subscribe or export them.
4. How long do I have to act before losing data?
Snapchat gives users 12 months of temporary storage before deletion begins.
5. Can I still download my data after the grace period?
Only if the files haven’t been deleted; once removed, they can’t be recovered.
6. How much is the paid storage plan?
Plans start at $1.99/month for 100GB and go up to $15.99/month for 5TB.
7. Is Snapchat+ worth subscribing to?
It depends — it’s great for creators but unnecessary if you just want backups.
8. Can I back up my Memories to Google Photos or iCloud?
Yes. You can export and then upload them to any cloud storage service.
9. Can I export all Snaps at once?
Yes, by using Snapchat’s Download My Data feature to get a .zip archive.
10. Will Snapchat delete everything automatically?
No. Your oldest Memories are safe; newer ones may be deleted to stay under 5GB.