To gift Snapchat+, open My Account, tap your Snapchat+ membership card, tap Gift Snapchat+, pick a friend, choose 3, 6 or 12 months and tap Gift Snapchat+ to pay. Your friend redeems it from Snapchat+ under Gifts Received. You can only gift to friends who aren't already subscribed, and the gift is a one-time purchase, not a subscription.
A Snapchat+ gift is a neat present for a friend who's always asking how you got a feature they don't have. There are a few rules on who can give, who can receive and when it starts, and Snapchat's help page has one detail that trips people up. Here's the whole process from both sides.
Who can gift Snapchat+
Snapchat's help page says you can gift Snapchat+ from the Snapchat app for 3, 6 or 12 months to friends that aren't subscribed, with payment through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The steps start from your own Snapchat+ membership card, and the page doesn't describe gifting from the web.
How to gift Snapchat+, step by step
- Open My Account and tap your Snapchat+ membership card.
- Tap Gift Snapchat+.
- Select the friend you want to gift it to.
- Choose the gift length and tap the Gift Snapchat+ button to start the purchase.
| Gift length | How it bills |
|---|---|
| 3 months | One-time purchase |
| 6 months | One-time purchase |
| 12 months | One-time purchase |
Snapchat's help page doesn't list gift prices, so check the price on screen before you confirm the purchase. Because it's a one-time purchase, there's nothing to cancel later and it won't renew.
How your friend redeems the gift
- Open My Account and tap Snapchat+.
- Tap Gift Snapchat+.
- Tap Gifts Received.
- Tap Redeem to start.
Once they've redeemed it, Snapchat says they might need to restart the app before the Snapchat+ features appear. That's the same advice it gives new subscribers.
The catch if your friend already has Snapchat+
Here's the detail that confuses people. If your friend already pays for Snapchat+ and then gets a gift, the gift doesn't replace their subscription. Snapchat says the gift begins after their original subscription ends, so they'll need to cancel their current subscription in order to redeem the gift. If they still have an active subscription when it arrives, they keep access for the period they've paid for, and the gift starts after that.
So the gift doesn't stack on top as free extra time while they're also being billed. They cancel, the paid period runs out, and then your gift kicks in. Cancelling depends on where they pay, and my guide to cancelling Snapchat+ covers iPhone, Android and web.
Gift, Family Plan or their own subscription?
| Option | Who pays | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Gift | You, once | 3, 6 or 12 months for one friend who isn't subscribed; no renewal |
| Friends and Family Plan | The account holder, as a subscription | Add up to two other friends who aren't yet subscribed, managed from Manage Subscription in Snapchat+ Settings |
| Their own subscription | Your friend | They subscribe from the Snapchat+ banner card in their Profile, or on the web at snapchat.com/plus |
If you'd like to cover a couple of friends on an ongoing basis, the Family Plan is the better fit. Snapchat notes it's rolling out slowly and may not be available to you yet. I've gone through it in more detail in the Snapchat+ Family Plan.
If the gift option doesn't appear
- Make sure you're looking at your Snapchat+ membership card in My Account, because that's where Gift Snapchat+ sits.
- Check your friend isn't already subscribed. Gifts are for friends who aren't.
- Restart the app after subscribing, since Snapchat says Snapchat+ options can need a restart to show.
- If you can't see the Snapchat+ card at all, Snapchat says you may have to dismiss other banner cards in your Profile first.
Not sure whether a friend already has it? Telling if someone has Snapchat+ shows the signs.
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My verdict
Gifting Snapchat+ is quick and there's no subscription to forget about, which makes it a good present. Just ask first if your friend already pays for it. If they do, they'll have to cancel and wait out their paid time before your gift starts, so a gift works best for someone who's never had Snapchat+ or let it lapse.
One perk worth knowing about before you gift: AI wallpapers in Snapchat chats.
Frequently asked questions
Can you gift Snapchat Plus?
Yes. Open My Account, tap your Snapchat+ membership card, tap Gift Snapchat+, choose a friend and a length of 3, 6 or 12 months, then pay.
Is a Snapchat+ gift a subscription?
No. Snapchat says gifts are a one-time purchase and not a recurring subscription, so it won't renew.
How do I redeem a Snapchat+ gift?
Open My Account, tap Snapchat+, tap Gift Snapchat+, tap Gifts Received and tap Redeem.
Can I gift Snapchat+ to someone who already has it?
Gifts are for friends who aren't subscribed. If a subscriber gets one, it starts only after their own subscription ends, so they need to cancel to redeem it.
What's the difference between gifting Snapchat+ and the Family Plan?
A gift is a one-time purchase for one friend. The Friends and Family Plan is a subscription where the account holder can add up to two friends who aren't yet subscribed.
