# Snapchat vs Google Photos

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Google Photos at 65% against Snapchat's 30%. Google Photos also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Snapchat's advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and ratings volume (6M vs 1.6M). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Snapchat sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Google Photos sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Google Photos holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6M and 1.6M respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of Snapchat's written reviews are positive against 65% of Google Photos's.

Snapchat ships an update every 5 days, Google Photos weekly. Both last shipped on October 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Snapchat | Google Photos |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snapchat/id447188370/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-photos-backup-and-edit/id962194608/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6M** | 1.6M |
| Positive reviews | 30.4% of reviews | **65.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#2** | #5 |
| Size | 405 MB | 415 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Snap, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/446889612) | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) |

## What reviewers say

### Snapchat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snapchat/id447188370)

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Grossing · Photo & Video, #5 Top Free · Photo & Video, #5 Top Grossing, #68 Top Free (US App Store)

Instantly share photos and videos with friends and family. Express yourself with creative tools, connect through live messaging and video calls, and discover content from the community. Save your favorite moments and explore shared memories.

**Highlights:** Camera with Lenses and Filters, Live Messaging and Video Chat, Friend and Group Stories, Spotlight for user-created content, Location Sharing Map, Memories for saving photos/videos, Friendship Profiles

**Features:** Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Memories Storage | $1.99 | per month |
| Snapchat+ Monthly Plan | $3.99 | per month |
| Snapchat+ Monthly Plan | $3.99 | per month |
| Snapchat+ (Monthly Plan) | $3.99 | per month |
| Snapchat+ (Monthly Plan) | $4.99 | per month |
| Snapchat+ (Monthly Plan) | $4.99 | per month |
| Snapchat+ Monthly Plan | $4.99 | per month |
| Snapchat+ (Annual Plan) | $29.99 | per year |
| Snapchat+ (12-Month Plan) | $39.99 | per year |
| Snapstreak Restore | $0.49 | one-time |
| Snapstreak Restore | $0.99 | one-time |
| Snapstreak Restore | $1.49 | one-time |
| Snapstreak Restore | $2.99 | one-time |
| Snapstreak Restore | $3.99 | one-time |
| Snapstreak Restore | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💬 Great way to communicate with friends
- 📷 Convenient for sharing photos and videos
- 🤳 Fun filters and customization options
- 🔒 Secure messaging with disappearing content
- 🗺️ Useful location-based features like Snap Map

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 Forced AI assistant that can't be removed
- 🤢 Dislike for new 3D bitmoji design
- 🕰️ Frustration over Snapchat+ paywall for basic features
- 🔇 Inability to disable shutter sound
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and glitches

**Reported bugs**

- Accounts being permanently locked for unclear reasons
- Inability to create new accounts on banned devices
- Disappearing Memories and lack of data retrieval
- Inconsistent video upload and playback issues
- Notifications and chat features not working properly

**Requested features**

- Allow permanent deletion of Memories
- Add multi-video upload to Stories
- Improve customer support and account recovery
- Provide option to disable AI assistant
- Bring back 2D bitmoji customization


### Google Photos

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-photos-backup-and-edit/id962194608)

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Grossing · Photo & Video, #8 Top Free · Photo & Video, #32 Top Grossing, #90 Top Free (US App Store)

This app serves as a central hub for all your photos and videos, offering AI-powered editing, effortless organization, and secure cloud storage. It allows you to easily search, relive, and share your memories, while also freeing up space on your device.

**Highlights:** 15 GB cloud storage, AI-powered editing tools, Natural language search, Automatic organization, Secure backup, Free up device space, Print photo products

**Features:** Family Sharing, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 GB | $1.99 | per month |
| 100 GB | $1.99 | per month |
| 200 GB | $2.99 | per month |
| 200 GB | $2.99 | per month |
| Google AI Plus (2 TB) | $9.99 | per month |
| 100 GB of Storage (1 year) | $19.99 | per year |
| 200 GB | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Unlimited storage
- 👍 Seamless backup and organization
- 🎨 Excellent photo editing features
- 💡 Automatic photo enhancements
- 🤖 Powerful search and facial recognition

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches with scrolling and loading
- 🔒 Lack of privacy/security options
- 🔍 Difficulty managing and deleting photos
- 💰 Transition to paid storage model

**Reported bugs**

- Photos disappearing from library
- Syncing issues between devices
- Slow upload speeds for large libraries

**Requested features**

- Selective photo/video backup and deletion
- Duplicate photo detection and removal
- Offline access and editing capabilities
- More granular album and folder organization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Snapchat free?

Snapchat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Google Photos free?

Google Photos is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Snapchat or Google Photos?

Google Photos is rated higher. Snapchat averages 4.5 out of 5 from 6M ratings, while Google Photos averages 4.8 from 1.6M ratings.

### Do Snapchat or Google Photos have ads?

Both Snapchat and Google Photos show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Snapchat or Google Photos?

Snapchat ships an update every 5 days, and Google Photos weekly. Most recently, Snapchat was updated on October 28, 2026 and Google Photos on October 28, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Snapchat or Google Photos?

Snapchat currently peaks at #2 in the App Store charts, and Google Photos at #5. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*