Snapchat
Camera-first messenger for sending disappearing photos and videos, with Stories, Lenses and a map.
- Verified facts
- 3 of 3
- Alternatives ranked
- 5
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Snapchat
Snapchat opens straight to the camera: you snap a photo or short video, decorate it with Lenses, filters or text, and send it to friends, where it disappears after viewing by default. Chats follow the same ephemeral approach, and streaks reward friends who snap each other daily. Around the messaging sit Stories, the Spotlight short-video feed, Snap Map for seeing where friends are (if they share) and a large augmented-reality Lens library built by Snap and creators. It is especially popular with teenagers and young adults. The app is free and ad-supported, and the optional Snapchat+ subscription adds custom icons, early features and story insights. It's built for Android and iPhone, with a web version for chatting and calls on a computer. Disappearing messages are not the same as secure ones: recipients can screenshot or save chats, and Snap still holds plenty of data about how you use the app. Its feed features also make it closer to a social network than a pure messenger.
Best for: Younger users who mostly chat with friends through quick photos and videos.
Pros and cons
What works
- Fast, fun camera with a huge Lens library
- Messages disappear by default
- Web version for chatting on a computer
Why people leave
- Ad-heavy, with feeds competing for attention
- Disappearing does not mean private; screenshots are possible
- Streaks and feeds encourage compulsive use
Top Snapchat alternatives
See all 5- 1
WhatsApp62.6Simpler messaging with view-once photos and encryption for every chat.
- 2
Signal59.6Disappearing messages that are also end-to-end encrypted, without ads or feeds.
- 3
Telegram55.3Self-destructing secret chats plus large groups for friends who want more than photos.
- 4
Instagram54.5Meta's photo app has DMs, Stories and disappearing photo messages in one place.
- 5
BeReal48.9A low-pressure photo-sharing app with daily candid snaps among close friends.
Why people left Snapchat
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Snapchat: common questions
Is Snapchat free?
Snapchat has a free plan and paid plans.
Is Snapchat open source?
No, Snapchat is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Signal.
What platforms does Snapchat run on?
Snapchat is available for Web, iOS and Android.
What are the best alternatives to Snapchat?
The highest-ranked Snapchat alternatives right now are WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.