In a strategic move to broaden its subscription program, Snapchat is reportedly in the early phases of testing a “Friends and Family Plan.” This initiative aligns with the broader trend in social media platforms seeking diverse monetization avenues beyond traditional ad sales.

As the subscription landscape thrives, Snapchat+, the platform’s existing subscription service, has witnessed remarkable growth, surpassing 5 million subscribers in the third quarter, up from 4 million in July—an impressive increase.

Despite this surge, the number of subscribers constitutes a mere fraction of Snapchat’s extensive user base. With 406 million daily active users in Q3, according to Snap, Inc., the paid subscriber base accounts for only 0.01% of the daily active user count, leaving ample room for expansion.

Snapchat to Unveil New Subscription Plan for Friends and Family?

The anticipation surrounding Snapchat’s potential ‘Friends and Family Plan’ is building momentum, fueled by clues found in the recent Beta version of Snapchat, as reported by Android Authority. This anticipated subscription update could serve as an extension of Snapchat Plus, enabling users to share their subscription plans with friends and family, fostering a more communal experience. While specific details, including the number of members eligible for the plan and pricing, remain undisclosed, the speculation has sparked enthusiasm among Snapchat users.

The report also hints at a Snapchat Plus Annual Plan, potentially offering discounts for users choosing to pay for a full year upfront. Although pricing details for this annual plan are not fully clarified, it is expected to present a more cost-effective option for friends and family purchasing individual subscriptions.

A Peek into the Current SnapChat+ Subscription

Following the spring 2022 rumors of a new subscription offering, Snap introduced Snapchat+ in July 2022, priced at $3.99 per month.

Snapchat+ subscribers enjoy access to exclusive, experimental, and pre-release features designed to enhance and personalize the Snapchat experience, allowing them to explore new features before non-subscribers.

Current Snapchat+ subscriber features, as detailed by Snapchat, include:

• Best Friends Forever (Pin as #1 Best Friend)
• Story Rewatch Indicator
• Custom App Icons
• Custom App Theme Editor
• Snapchat+ Badge
• Friend Solar System
• Priority Story Replies
• Post View Emojis
• Bitmoji Backgrounds
• Story Timer
• Capturing Color
• Custom Notification Sounds
• Friend Snapscore Change
• Chat Wallpapers
• Custom Capture Buttons
• Gift Snapchat+
• Story Boost
• Map Appearance
• Replay Again
• My AI’s Bio
• Extended Best Friends List
• One free monthly Snapstreak Restore
• Custom Chat Color
• Home Tab
• Free Dreams
• Peek a Pee
• AI Captions

Snapchat+’s rapid ascent to over 5 million paid subscribers highlights the potential for monetizing messaging apps. Its unique features, coupled with successful AI integration, not only underscore Snap’s adaptability but also mirror a broader user interest in AI as an entertainment outlet. However, the service’s growing revenue contribution remains a fraction of Snap’s advertising-driven earnings.

INSIDER TAKE

The rumored introduction of the “Friends and Family Plan” aligns with Snapchat’s strategic move to diversify revenue streams beyond advertising and in-app purchases. The potential new subscription offering targets the Gen Z demographic, providing exclusive features in exchange for a monthly fee.

Snapchat’s exploration of additional subscription plans reflects a broader industry shift towards paid subscriptions as a revenue generation avenue for social media platforms. Recent developments include Elon Musk’s announcement that X, formerly Twitter, will offer premium subscriptions and TikTok’s reported testing of an ad-free monthly subscription plan.

Snapchat’s adept use of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance advertising capabilities has successfully attracted brands back to the platform. As it ventures into innovative subscription models, Snapchat aims to strike a delicate balance between user growth, retention, and revenue diversification.