The best alternative to paying for Snapchat+ storage is Memories Import -- a one-time $4.99 purchase that exports all your Snapchat memories to your camera roll permanently, with original dates and locations preserved. Instead of paying $3.99 every month for cloud storage you don't control, you pay once and own your photos forever.
Snapchat's shift to paid storage has left millions of users searching for alternatives. Since Snapchat introduced storage limits and began pushing Snapchat+ subscriptions for continued cloud access to Memories, users face a choice: pay indefinitely, lose access to their photos, or find a better way. This guide breaks down every option so you can make an informed decision.
Feature Comparison: All Your Options at a Glance
Here is a direct comparison of the four main methods for keeping your Snapchat memories safe. This table covers the key factors most users care about when choosing how to preserve their photos and videos.
| Feature | Memories Import | Snapchat+ | Manual Save | Google Photos Backup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 one-time | $3.99/month ($47.88/yr) | Free | Free (with storage limits) |
| Preserves original dates | Yes | Yes (in-app only) | No (shows as today) | No |
| Preserves GPS locations | Yes | Partial (in-app only) | No | No |
| Bulk import (all at once) | Yes (thousands at once) | No (stored in-app only) | No (one by one) | No (one by one) |
| Works offline | Yes (after download) | No (requires internet) | No | No |
| Requires subscription | No | Yes ($3.99/month) | No | No (but limited free storage) |
| Privacy | 100% on-device | Cloud-dependent | On-device | Cloud upload to Google |
| Handles 1,000+ items | Yes (tested with 10,000+) | Yes (with subscription) | Impractical | Impractical |
Cost Projection: What You'll Actually Pay Over Time
The true cost difference becomes dramatic over time. Here is what each option costs over 1, 3, 5, and 10 years assuming Snapchat+ pricing stays at $3.99/month (historically, subscription prices only go up).
| Time Period | Memories Import | Snapchat+ | Manual Save | Google Photos Backup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year | $4.99 | $47.88 | $0 | $0 - $29.99 |
| 3 Years | $4.99 | $143.64 | $0 | $0 - $89.97 |
| 5 Years | $4.99 | $239.40 | $0 | $0 - $149.95 |
| 10 Years | $4.99 | $478.80 | $0 | $0 - $299.90 |
Over 10 years, Snapchat+ costs nearly $480 just to keep your memories accessible. Memories Import costs $4.99 once, and your photos live in your camera roll permanently -- backed up automatically by iCloud or Google Photos at no additional cost.
Detailed Breakdown: Snapchat+ Subscription
What Snapchat+ Includes
Snapchat+ is Snapchat's premium subscription service priced at $3.99/month. It includes a bundle of features beyond just storage:
- Extended cloud storage for Memories
- Custom app icons and themes
- Story rewatch indicator (see who rewatched your story)
- Best Friends pinning
- Priority support
- Exclusive Snapchat+ badge
Pros of Snapchat+
- Keeps everything within the Snapchat ecosystem
- Includes cosmetic and social features beyond storage
- No manual export or import process required
- Memories stay organized in-app exactly as you saved them
Cons of Snapchat+
- Recurring cost: $47.88/year with no end in sight
- Vendor lock-in: If you stop paying, you risk losing access to stored memories beyond the free tier
- No true ownership: Your photos live on Snapchat's servers, not on your device
- Account risk: If your Snapchat account is compromised, locked, or deleted, your memories go with it
- Platform dependency: You can only access memories through the Snapchat app
- No EXIF metadata: Photos saved from Snapchat+ don't carry embedded date and location data to other apps
Detailed Breakdown: Memories Import
What Memories Import Does
Memories Import is a mobile app available on iOS and Android that takes your official Snapchat data export and imports every photo and video into your phone's camera roll. It processes everything on your device, embeds original dates and GPS locations into the file metadata (EXIF), and places each memory in the correct chronological position in your gallery.
Pros of Memories Import
- One-time cost: Pay $4.99 once, keep your memories forever
- True ownership: Photos live on your device and in your cloud backup (iCloud / Google Photos)
- Preserves metadata: Original dates, times, and GPS locations are embedded in each file
- Bulk processing: Import thousands of memories in a single session
- 100% offline: All processing happens on your device -- your photos never touch a third-party server
- Works with any backup service: Once in your camera roll, photos are backed up by iCloud, Google Photos, OneDrive, or any service you use
- 99.7% success rate: Tested with exports containing over 10,000 items
Cons of Memories Import
- Requires requesting a data export from Snapchat first (takes 24-48 hours)
- One-time manual process to set up the import
- Needs sufficient device storage for the imported media
- Does not include Snapchat+ cosmetic features (custom icons, badges, etc.)
Detailed Breakdown: Manual Save (One by One)
How Manual Saving Works
You can manually save individual Snapchat memories to your camera roll by opening each memory, tapping the save button, and downloading it. This is free but extremely time-consuming.
Pros of Manual Save
- Completely free
- No third-party app required
- Simple for a handful of photos
Cons of Manual Save
- Loses original dates: Every saved photo shows today's date in your camera roll
- Loses GPS data: Location information is stripped when saving manually
- Extremely slow: Saving 1,000 memories one by one would take hours of tedious tapping
- No bulk option: Snapchat provides no "save all" button
- Error-prone: Easy to miss memories or accidentally skip items
Detailed Breakdown: Google Photos Backup
How Google Photos Backup Works
Some users attempt to back up their Snapchat memories by saving them manually and then relying on Google Photos to sync. While Google Photos is an excellent backup service, it doesn't solve the core problem of getting photos out of Snapchat efficiently.
Pros of Google Photos Backup
- 15GB free storage with a Google account
- Cross-device access
- Good search and organization features
Cons of Google Photos Backup
- Doesn't solve the export problem: You still need to get photos out of Snapchat first
- No date preservation: Photos appear with the date they were saved, not the original capture date
- Storage limits: 15GB fills up quickly with videos; paid plans start at $2.49/month
- Privacy: Your photos are uploaded to Google's servers and may be used for AI training
- No bulk Snapchat integration: No way to import directly from Snapchat in bulk
Why Users Are Switching from Snapchat+ to Memories Import
Since Snapchat introduced storage limits, we have seen a significant shift in how users manage their memories. Here are the key trends driving this change:
- 10,000+ users have chosen Memories Import to take ownership of their Snapchat photos
- 2.5 million memories have been successfully imported to camera rolls
- 99.7% success rate across all imports, including exports with 10,000+ items
- Average savings of $43/year compared to Snapchat+ subscriptions
The most common reasons users give for switching:
- "I don't want to pay monthly just to see my own photos." -- The recurring cost of Snapchat+ feels unreasonable when the photos were created by the user in the first place.
- "I want my photos in my camera roll, not locked in an app." -- Users want to share, edit, and print their memories using any app, not just Snapchat.
- "What happens if Snapchat changes their policy again?" -- Platform dependency creates anxiety about future access to personal memories.
- "The dates were wrong when I saved manually." -- Losing chronological order destroys the value of a photo library. Memories Import fixes this.
Which Option Is Right for You?
Here is a simple guide to choosing the right approach based on your situation:
- Choose Memories Import if: You want to save money, own your photos permanently, and have them in your camera roll with correct dates and locations. Best for users with 100+ memories who want a clean, one-time solution.
- Choose Snapchat+ if: You specifically want the cosmetic and social features (custom icons, story rewatch, badge) and don't mind paying monthly. Storage is a bonus, not the main reason.
- Choose Manual Save if: You have fewer than 20 photos and don't care about preserving original dates or locations.
- Choose Google Photos Backup if: You already have another method for getting photos out of Snapchat and just need a secondary cloud backup.
How to Switch from Snapchat+ to Memories Import
If you're currently paying for Snapchat+ and want to switch, the process is straightforward:
- Export your data: Go to accounts.snapchat.com, log in, and click "My Data" then "Submit Request"
- Wait for the email: Snapchat will send you a download link within 24-48 hours
- Download the export: Save the ZIP file to your phone
- Install Memories Import: Download from the App Store or Google Play
- Import: Open the ZIP file in the app and tap Import
- Cancel Snapchat+: Once your memories are safely in your camera roll, cancel your Snapchat+ subscription
The entire process takes about 30 minutes of active time (plus waiting for Snapchat to prepare your export). After that, your memories are permanently in your camera roll, backed up by your regular photo backup service, and you never pay another monthly fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Memories Import a good alternative to paying for Snapchat+ storage?
Yes. Memories Import is a one-time purchase of $4.99 that lets you export all your Snapchat memories to your camera roll permanently. Unlike Snapchat+ at $3.99/month ($47.88/year), you pay once and own your photos forever with no recurring fees.
What does Snapchat+ offer that Memories Import doesn't?
Snapchat+ is a subscription that includes cosmetic features like custom app icons, story rewatch indicators, and extended cloud storage for Memories within the Snapchat app. Memories Import focuses specifically on exporting your photos and videos to your phone's camera roll with original dates and locations preserved, giving you full ownership of your media outside of Snapchat.
Can I use Memories Import instead of paying for Snapchat+ cloud storage?
Absolutely. If your main reason for considering Snapchat+ is to keep your memories safe, Memories Import is a more cost-effective solution. It exports all your Snapchat photos and videos to your camera roll where they are backed up by iCloud or Google Photos automatically. You pay $4.99 once instead of $3.99 every month.
Does Memories Import preserve the original dates and locations from Snapchat?
Yes. Memories Import reads the metadata from your Snapchat export and embeds the original capture date, time, and GPS location into each photo and video's EXIF data. This means your memories appear in the correct chronological position in your camera roll and show up on the map in Apple Photos or Google Photos.
Stop paying monthly for your own memories
Memories Import saves all your Snapchat photos and videos to your camera roll with original dates and locations. One-time purchase, no subscriptions, 100% private.
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