How to Make Money on Snapchat? Here’s the Answer!

Key Takeaways

• Be a Snapchat Influencer: If you have a big following, brands might pay you to promote their products, or you can earn from ads through Snapchat’s creator program. You need at least 50,000 followers and meet engagement metrics like 10 million views in 28 days.
• Affiliate Marketing: Promote other companies’ products in your snaps, and earn commissions for sales through your links. It’s easy if you have a niche audience, like beauty or fitness.
• Sell Your Own Products: Use Snapchat to market your goods, like clothes or services, through stories and ads, driving traffic to your website.
• Create and Sell Lenses: Design fun filters or lenses using Snapchat’s Lens Studio, and if they’re popular, earn up to $7,200 monthly through the Lens Creator Rewards Program.
• Receive Gifts from Fans: If you’re a popular creator, fans can send virtual gifts, which you can convert to real money.

Snapchat, with its ephemeral content and youthful user base, has evolved into a lucrative platform for creators and businesses alike. As of February 28, 2025, research highlights multiple strategies to monetize your presence, catering to various skill levels and audience sizes. This guide dives deep into each method, providing actionable steps, examples, and considerations to help you succeed.

What is Snapchat?

Snapchat is a multimedia messaging app where users share photos, videos, and text messages (called “Snaps”) that disappear after viewing. It boasts 443 million daily active users as of late 2024, with a significant portion being Gen Z and Millennials, making it a hotspot for engaging younger demographics. Its features, like Stories (visible for 24 hours) and Spotlights (short-form videos), are ideal for real-time interaction and promotions.

Monetization Methods

1. Becoming a Snapchat Influencer

This method is for those with a substantial following, aiming to earn through brand partnerships and Snapchat’s official programs.

How It Works

Brands pay influencers to promote products in snaps or stories, while Snapchat’s unified Monetization Program, launched in February 2025, places ads in your Stories and Spotlights, sharing revenue with you.

Eligibility Criteria

To join the program, you need at least 50,000 followers and meet one of these in the past 28 days: 10 million Snap views, 1 million Spotlight views, or 12,000 hours of view time. You must also post at least 25 times monthly to Saved Stories or Spotlights and have 10 days of posts in the last 28 days. You must be 18 or older and comply with community guidelines.

Tips for Success

• • Create authentic, engaging content to build a loyal audience.
  • Use features like Public Stories and Spotlights to increase visibility.
  • Network with brands or use platforms like Upwork to find sponsorships.

Example: Andrea Romo earned $500,000 from a single upload, showcasing the potential for high earnings with a large, engaged following. Cam Casey reportedly made over $3 million, highlighting the scalability of this method.

2. Affiliate Marketing on Snapchat

Affiliate marketing involves promoting products and earning commissions, suitable for creators with any audience size.

How It Works

Join affiliate programs (e.g., Amazon Associates, ShareASale) and share your unique links in snaps or stories. Each sale through your link earns you a commission.

Challenges

Snapchat’s ephemeral nature means links must be memorable or QR-coded, as direct linking isn’t as seamless as on other platforms.

Tips for Success

• • Choose products relevant to your niche (e.g., beauty products for a beauty-focused account).
  • Create engaging content, like tutorials using the product, to drive clicks.
  • Disclose affiliations to maintain trust, as transparency is crucial.

Example: Promote a skincare product in a story, linking to your affiliate page, and earn a commission for each purchase.

3. Selling Your Own Products

Businesses and creators can use Snapchat to market and sell their own products, leveraging its visual, real-time features.

How It Works

Set up a business account with a public profile, use stories and ads to showcase products, and drive traffic to your website or sales platform.

Ad Formats

Use Snap Ads (full-screen videos or photos with swipe-up links) or Sponsored Snaps to reach users. Ads start at $3,000 monthly for video ads, with options like discovery ads at $50,000 daily for brands.

Tips for Success

• • Highlight product features with engaging visuals, aligning with trends.
  • Offer Snapchat-exclusive discounts to incentivize purchases.
  • Target Gen Z and Millennials, who make up 75% of users, for higher conversion rates.

Example: A small clothing brand could post a story showing a new collection, linking to their website for purchases, using ads to boost visibility.

4. Creating and Selling Snapchat Lenses or Filters

This method suits those with design skills, offering a creative way to earn through augmented reality (AR) content.

How It Works

Use Lens Studio to design custom lenses or filters, submit them to Snapchat, and earn through the Lens Creator Rewards Program if they perform well. Top lenses can earn up to $7,200 monthly based on engagement in countries like the US, India, and Mexico.

Eligibility

No specific follower count required; lenses must accumulate at least 15,000 “Qualified Posters” (unique users posting with your lens) and meet other criteria. You must be 18 and based in an eligible country.

Tips for Success

• • Create fun, shareable lenses, like themed filters for holidays or events.
  • Collaborate with brands for sponsored lenses, which can be lucrative (e.g., Sony Pictures, Starbucks use branded lenses).

Example: Cyrene Quiamco earned $750,000 in a year designing lenses for brands like Hulu and Marriott, showing the potential for AR creators.

5. Receiving Gifts from Fans

Popular creators can earn through virtual gifts sent by fans, a newer feature for monetization.

How It Works

Fans can buy Creator Gifts, which appear prominently on your feed, and you can convert these into real money, with a minimum payout of $100.

Tips for Success

• • Build a loyal, engaged audience with consistent, high-quality content.
  • Engage with fans to encourage gift-sending, boosting interaction.

Example: A comedy sketch creator might receive gifts from fans, converting them to cash for extra income.

Comparative Analysis of Methods

Considerations and Best Practices

• Transparency: Always label sponsored content with a “Paid Partnership” label to comply with guidelines and maintain audience trust.
• Compliance: Ensure all activities adhere to Snapchat’s Community Guidelines, Terms of Service, and Creator Monetization Policy to avoid account suspension.
• Audience Engagement: Focus on authentic, fun content to keep your audience engaged, as Snapchat thrives on real-time interaction.
• Target Demographics: Tailor content for Gen Z and Millennials, who dominate the platform, to maximize reach and conversions.

Conclusion

Making money on Snapchat is achievable through multiple avenues, from influencer earnings to creative lens design. Start by identifying your strengths, whether it’s content creation, marketing, or design and build from there. Remember, consistency, authenticity, and audience engagement are key to unlocking Snapchat’s monetization potential.