What Does Subscription Mean on Snapchat?

Co-authored by Melissa Newman and Eric McClure

Last Updated: January 8, 2023 References

Curious about how subscriptions on Snapchat work? Figuring out what’s going on with Snapchat subscriptions is a breeze, and we’re here to break all of this down for you. In this article, we’ll cover why your friends might have subscription buttons on their profile, how you can get a subscription button on your own if you’d like, and how subscriptions work.

Section 1 of 6:

What does it mean to subscribe to someone on Snapchat?

If you subscribe to a user on Snapchat, their stories will show up in your feed. Snapchat subscriptions allow you to view stories shared by public profiles and users. When you subscribe to someone, their stories will continue to show up in your feed—even if the two of you aren’t friends.^{[1]
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- Many people subscribe to popular influencers, brands, and celebrities they like.

Section 2 of 6:

How do I subscribe to someone on Snapchat?

Click the yellow “Subscribe” button on their profile page to subscribe. Open up a user’s profile by tapping on their name. If the profile is public, there will be a yellow “Subscribe” button under their bitmoji. Tap that and you’re subscribed!
- You can find profiles to follow in the Discovery Spotlight tab, which will show you popular random posts from users you don’t know.^{[3]
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- If there is no subscription button, it means that their profile isn’t public.

Section 3 of 6:

Why does it say “subscribe” instead of “add friend?”

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If a friend’s profile has a “subscribe” button, they un-friended you. Unfortunately, this only happens if someone who used to be your friend un-friends you. They’re okay with you still subscribing and watching their stories, though. If you’re okay with that, go ahead and subscribe, although you may want to unfriend them if you don’t appreciate them unfriending you.^{[4]
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If their profile is public, you can’t send them a friend request. You cannot add public profiles as friends—they have to send you a request manually. The content from a public account appears as a subscription, so all you can do is hit the “subscribe” button to get your friend’s stories to show up in your feed.
- While you can message and communicate directly with a friend, you can only view a subscription’s content. Ask your friend to add you the next time you see them IRL so you two can communicate over Snapchat.

Section 4 of 6:

How do I get a subscription button on my Snapchat profile?

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You must meet 4 requirements to qualify for a subscription button. You can change a few settings to automatically display a subscription button, but a few things have to be true first. You must:^{[5]
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- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have an account older than 24 hours.
- Adhere to the community guidelines (no bans or warnings).
- At least one of your friends must have a friend of their own.
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If you qualify, change your profile settings to get a subscription button. Go to your settings by tapping the cog at the top right of your account page. Then, scroll down to “Who Can…” and you should see “Contact Me,” “View My Story,” and “See My Location.” Change all of these settings to “Everyone.” Go back to the account page and scroll down to “Spotlight & Snap Map.” Tap the three dots and select “Create Public Profile.” Follow the prompts to complete the walkthrough and you’ll get a subscription button.^{[6]
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- Keep in mind, your snap stories are now out there for literally anybody to see. Make sure that you never post personal information, share anything that might come back to bite you, or break any of Snapchat’s rules.

Section 5 of 6:

Are subscriptions on Snapchat free?

Yes, there are no fees for subscribing to someone on Snapchat. If you’ve ever subscribed to anyone on YouTube, it’s basically the same thing here. Your Snapchat subscriptions are entirely free—all a subscription does is make someone’s stories pop up in your Snapchat feed.

Section 6 of 6:

How do I unsubscribe from someone on Snapchat?

To unsubscribe from someone, click their profile and hit “Unsubscribe.” View the person’s story and tap their account name. This will bring the options menu up. Tap the “unsubscribe” button and voila! You’ll no longer see that user’s stories pop up in your feed.^{[7]
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- You can also unsubscribe by searching their name in the search bar and tapping the “unsubscribe button” on the right side of the account name.