Snapchat 5GB Storage Limit: Avoid Paying for Memories
Export your Memories before Snapchat's 12-month grace period ends. Get proper dates & GPS coordinates, avoid monthly storage fees.
Snapchat's New 5GB Storage Limit Explained
In September 2024, Snapchat announced a major change affecting millions of users: free Memories storage is now capped at 5GB. For nearly a decade since Memories launched in 2016, Snapchat offered unlimited free storage where you could save as many photos and videos as you wanted. That's over. With users collectively saving over 1 trillion Memories, Snapchat cited unsustainable infrastructure costs and introduced paid storage tiers starting at $1.99/month for 100GB. If you exceed 5GB without upgrading, you get 12 months of temporary grace period storage, after which Snapchat permanently deletes your newest Memories beyond the limit, keeping only your oldest Memories within 5GB.
12-Month Deadline to Export or Pay
Once you hit 5GB, Snapchat gives you exactly 12 months of free temporary storage above the limit. After that deadline, if you haven't exported your Memories or upgraded to a paid plan, Snapchat automatically and permanently deletes your newest Memories—keeping only your oldest content within 5GB.
$1.99/Month Recurring Cost Adds Up Fast
The cheapest storage upgrade is $1.99/month for 100GB, which costs $23.88 annually. Over 5 years that's $119.40—and if you have more than 100GB of Memories, you'll need Snapchat+ ($3.99/month = $239.40 over 5 years) or Platinum ($15.99/month = $959.40 over 5 years).
Can't See Your Current Storage Usage
Snapchat doesn't show your exact storage usage—only an 'Upgrade Storage' banner when you're near or over 5GB. You have no way to proactively monitor how close you are to the limit or plan ahead, making it impossible to know if you're about to hit the deadline until it's almost too late.
Newest Memories Deleted First (Not Oldest)
Snapchat's deletion policy keeps your oldest Memories and deletes your newest ones first when you exceed 5GB without paying. This means recent photos from last year or this year get permanently deleted, while older content from 2016-2020 remains—the opposite of what most people would want.
How to Avoid Snapchat's Storage Fee Permanently
The smart solution is to export your Snapchat Memories during the 12-month grace period using Snapchat's "Download My Data" feature. Request your complete data export, which includes all photos, videos, and the critical memories_history.json file containing original dates and GPS coordinates. Our desktop app then reads this JSON metadata and properly embeds DateTimeOriginal and GPS coordinates into each file using standard EXIF tags, making your exported Memories work perfectly in Apple Photos, Google Photos, and all gallery apps.
After organizing your export with proper metadata, delete your Memories from Snapchat to drop back under the 5GB free limit. You'll never pay Snapchat storage fees, your Memories remain permanently backed up on your computer or cloud service of choice (Google Photos 15GB free, iCloud, Dropbox), and they display correctly with accurate dates and map views. Save $23-960 annually while keeping complete control of your photos.
✓ Keep all Memories with proper dates & GPS
✓ Works in Apple Photos & Google Photos
✓ Own your data forever, no subscriptions
Why Export Instead of Paying Snapchat Storage Fees
Save $23.88-$959.40 Per Year Forever
Avoid recurring Snapchat storage fees that cost $23.88 annually for 100GB, $47.88 for Snapchat+ (250GB), or $191.88 for Platinum (5TB). Export once, keep your Memories forever, and never pay monthly storage subscriptions. Over 5 years, you save $119-$959 that would've gone to Snapchat.
Beat the 12-Month Deletion Deadline
Snapchat gives you exactly 12 months of temporary storage over 5GB before permanently deleting your newest Memories. Export during this grace period to save everything before the deadline. Once the 12 months expire, deleted Memories are gone forever—no recovery option exists.
Keep Memories with Proper Dates & GPS
Our tool reads memories_history.json and embeds DateTimeOriginal and GPS coordinates as EXIF metadata. Your exported Memories sort chronologically in Apple Photos and Google Photos, appear on map views, and support location search—exactly like photos from your camera, not broken Snapchat exports.
Use Free Cloud Storage Instead of Paying Snapchat
Google Photos gives 15GB free, iCloud offers 5GB, and your computer has unlimited storage. After exporting and organizing Memories properly, upload to free cloud services or external drives. Access from any device, backup automatically, and avoid Snapchat's expensive storage entirely.
Own Your Data Permanently, No Platform Lock-In
Memories locked in Snapchat disappear if you delete the app, lose your account, or Snapchat changes policies again. Exported Memories with proper EXIF metadata are yours forever—platform independent, working in any photo app or service, backed up how you want, truly owned by you.
Stay Under 5GB Free Limit by Deleting Old Memories
After exporting and backing up, delete Memories from Snapchat to drop under 5GB. Keep the free tier forever without hitting the limit again. New Memories can be exported periodically (every 6-12 months) and deleted, maintaining permanent free Snapchat Memories storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Snapchat limit free storage to 5GB?
Snapchat announced in September 2024 that unlimited free Memories storage is ending. With over 1 trillion Memories saved since 2016, the infrastructure costs became unsustainable. Now free accounts are capped at 5GB, requiring paid plans for additional storage.
How much does Snapchat storage upgrade cost?
Snapchat offers three paid storage tiers: 100GB for $1.99/month (standalone plan), 250GB included with Snapchat+ ($3.99/month), or 5TB included with Snapchat Platinum ($15.99/month). These replace the previously unlimited free storage.
What happens if I exceed 5GB without upgrading?
Snapchat gives you 12 months of temporary storage above the 5GB limit. After that grace period, if you don't upgrade or export, Snapchat keeps your oldest Memories within 5GB and permanently deletes your newest Memories that exceed the limit.
Can I avoid paying for Snapchat storage?
Yes! Export your Memories before the 12-month grace period ends. Use Snapchat's 'Download My Data' feature to get all your photos and videos in a ZIP file, then organize them with proper dates and GPS using our tool. This avoids monthly fees entirely.
How do I check my Snapchat storage usage?
Currently, Snapchat doesn't show your exact storage usage. If you're nearing or over 5GB, you'll see an 'Upgrade Storage' banner in Memories when trying to save new content. Snapchat is developing a detailed storage usage view coming soon.
What's the 12-month grace period for Snapchat storage?
If you exceed 5GB, Snapchat temporarily stores your extra Memories for 12 months from when you first hit the limit. During this time, you can export your data, delete unwanted Memories, or upgrade to a paid plan without losing content.
Will exported Snapchat Memories lose their dates?
Yes, unfortunately. Snapchat export strips DateTimeOriginal and GPS coordinates from files. Our tool fixes this by reading memories_history.json and embedding proper EXIF metadata so your exported Memories display correctly in Apple Photos and Google Photos.
Can I still use Snapchat if I don't pay for storage?
Yes, you can continue using Snapchat normally. The 5GB limit only affects Memories storage. If you export your old Memories and delete them from Snapchat, you'll free up space to save new Memories without paying for upgraded storage.
Is 5GB enough for Snapchat Memories?
It depends on usage. Snapchat says most users have under 5GB and won't be affected. However, power users who've saved Memories for years often have 20-50GB stored. Photos are 2-5MB each and videos 10-50MB, so thousands of Memories quickly exceed 5GB.
Don't Pay Snapchat Storage Fees—Export Free Today
Download our free tool and export your Memories before the 12-month grace period ends. Get proper dates & GPS, save $23.88-$959.40 per year, keep your data forever.
Export & Avoid Fees