Snapchat is officially joining the paid subscription game. The social media platform announced it is launching a new feature that allows fans to pay their favorite creators for extra perks and content. This move puts Snapchat right in line with competitors like Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, which already offer similar ways for influencers to make money directly from their followers.
So, what does a subscription actually get you? If you decide to support a creator, you unlock access to exclusive Snaps and Stories that free users won’t see. But it isn’t just about viewing content. Paying subscribers also get “priority replies,” meaning when you send a message, it jumps to the top of the creator’s inbox. This makes it much more likely they will see and respond to you. On top of that, subscribers won’t have to sit through ads while watching that specific creator’s stories, making for a smoother viewing experience.
For the people making the content, this update offers a lot of flexibility. Snapchat isn’t setting a single flat rate for everyone. Instead, creators can decide exactly how much they want to charge their fans per month based on a set of recommended price tiers. The company pitches this as a way to give creators “freedom to experiment” and, more importantly, build a steady, recurring income stream. In a creator economy where ad revenue can go up and down, having subscribers pay a monthly fee provides much-needed financial stability.
The rollout is happening fast. Starting February 23, a select group of creators based in the United States can start offering these subscriptions. For the initial launch, only users on iOS devices in the US can sign up to pay. However, fans in other regions won’t have to wait too long. Snapchat plans to expand the program to Canada, France, and the United Kingdom in the coming weeks. By adding these monetization tools, Snapchat hopes to keep its top talent from jumping ship to TikTok or Instagram.
