Snapchat has added a new layer to its paid offerings. The Lens+ subscription combines the existing monthly Snapchat+ plan with additional access to “hundreds of lenses and augmented reality that let you play, create, and share pictures with friends in whole new ways.” The plan will cost $9 per month.
At the beginning of the subscription, lenses created by the company or selected creators will be available. New augmented reality features will be added every week. In the coming months, creators will be able to create and monetize lenses for the program, although Snapchat has not publicly explained how it will select “selected” participants. A company spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch that after the launch of Lens+, no lenses that were previously free will be placed behind a paywall.
In 2022, the social network introduced a paid option Snapchat+. According to the blog post announcing this additional option, the program has 15 million subscribers. The Lens app takes advantage of developments in artificial intelligence. Already this year, the company debuted AI-generated video lenses for premium subscribers and released a separate app for any user to create their own effects. Another AR project of Snapchat is Specs, a set of glasses that the company plans to release next year.
