Snap Inc., the company behind Snapchat, has announced major changes to its Memories feature, ending the unlimited storage option that has been free since 2016.
Now, users will only get 5GB of free storage for their saved photos and videos. Snap says most people use much less than this, but many are upset because it puts a paywall on personal memories that have always been free. Critics also fear it could set a trend for other tech companies to limit access to digital archives.
To get more space, Snapchat is introducing paid plans. The basic Memories Storage Plan costs $1.99 a month for 100GB, while Snapchat+ subscribers paying $3.99 a month will get 250GB.
A Platinum plan, priced at $15.99 monthly, offers up to 5TB of storage. Snap describes these options as affordable, but many users see it as just another way to make money, and feel it’s unfair to charge for memories that often hold personal and emotional value.
To make the switch easier, Snap will allow people who already use more than 5GB to keep their storage for one year before the new limits apply.
Still, this has upset users who fear they will be forced into paid plans once the grace period ends. The move is part of Snap’s bigger push toward paid services, after launching Lens+ earlier this year at $9 per month for advanced AR features.
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