Snapchat is introducing a new subscription-based monetization model for its most popular creators, giving select Snap Stars the ability to earn recurring, direct revenue from fans inside the app. Snapchat’s latest efforts come in the wake of keeping up with other platforms, which are also exploring ways to make them paid to certain degrees. With Snapchat, the top creators posting consistently to the platform can now charge on the basis 0f audience attention and presence across social media.
According to their newsroom:
Snapchat has always been about connection, and creators are driving that more than ever. In Q4 2025, Snapchat reached 946M monthly active users, 1 with the number of U.S. Snapchatters posting to Spotlight growing 47% year-over-year 2– a signal of the momentum and creativity shaping our community.
Expanding on existing monetization offerings like the Unified Monetization Program and the Snap Star Collab Studio, Creator Subscriptions introduce a premium layer of connection directly into how Snapchatters already engage with creators across Stories, Chat, and replies.
The new creator subscriptions add a premium layer directly into how Snapchat users already engage with creators across Stories, Chat and replies. According to Snap Inc., the aim is to deepen creator fan relationships while providing creators with a predictable income stream that does not rely entirely on advertising or brand deals. The company says the feature is designed to feel native to existing behavior rather than forcing creators to build separate monetization funnels.
Subscribers will receive access to exclusive content, including subscriber-only Snaps and Stories, along with priority replies to creators’ public Stories, increasing the likelihood of direct interaction. Paying fans will also see an ad-free experience within that creator’s Stories, offering uninterrupted viewing.
“Creators can set their own monthly pricing within Snap-recommended tiers, giving them the flexibility to define the value of their community,” Snapchat clarified.
At launch, the program will be restricted to Snap Stars, Snapchat’s designation for creators with large, highly engaged audiences or verified public figures. There is no specific eligibility threshold yet, giving Snapchat the flexibility in selecting which creators to invite. This controlled rollout mirrors Snapchat’s broader monetization philosophy, which emphasizes quality, scale and sustained engagement rather than opening revenue tools to all users.
Creator subscriptions expand on Snapchat’s existing revenue-sharing program, which enables eligible creators to earn from mid-roll ads inserted between Stories and Spotlight clips. However, that program already carries high barriers to enter. It requires tens of thousands of followers and significant monthly view time, reinforcing Snapchat’s focus on monetizing its top-performing creators rather than the long tail.
The company explains that:
Starting February 23, Snapchatters in supported markets on iOS can subscribe to participating creators, including Jeremiah Brown, Harry Jowsey, and Skai Jackson, among others. Creator Subscriptions will expand to more Snapchatters, creators, and devices in the coming weeks as we thoughtfully scale the program.
