Snapchat launches $8.99 Lens+ subscription

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Snapchat has introduced a new subscription plan called Lens+, which costs $8.99 per month. This new tier is an upgrade from the existing Snapchat+ plan that costs $3.99 per month. 

While the basic Snapchat+ offers extra features, Lens+ focuses specifically on giving users access to exclusive Lenses and AR experiences.

With Lens+, users can access hundreds of special Lenses that allow them to create fun and creative Snaps. 

These include AI-powered video Lenses, a new Bitmoji Game Lens, and more content that will be added regularly. These Lenses are developed by both Snapchat and selected creators.

Importantly, Snapchat says it won’t charge for any Lenses that were already free. So if you’ve been using certain filters or effects for free, that won’t change.

In the future, some Lens creators will be able to earn money from their exclusive Lenses. 

Snapchat hasn’t shared details yet about how the money will be split between the company and creators, but it marks a new opportunity for creators to make income through the platform.

Snapchat+ was first launched in 2022 and now has over 14 million paid subscribers. The company credits this subscription service as a major factor behind its recent financial growth. 

For instance, in April, Snapchat reported earning $1.36 billion in one quarter, which was a 14% increase compared to the previous year. 

This rise was largely due to the growing number of paying users and improvements in its advertising business.

By adding Lens+, Snapchat hopes to increase its revenue even more by offering unique content that users must pay to unlock. 

However, it’s likely that not all users will be willing to spend money on these features.

Snapchat also has a Platinum tier that costs $14.99 per month, which includes all the features from both Snapchat+ and Lens+, plus it removes ads for a cleaner user experience.

What do you think about this subscription from Snapchat? Do you still use the app? Let’s chat below in the comments, or via our Twitter or Facebook.