YouTube is the better app overall, scoring 8.7 to 8.0. YouTube wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Snapchat on 1.
Creators who make longer videos and want a clear way to earn
Teens and friends who like to chat with photos
Score by score
The details
| Feature | YouTube | Snapchat |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Social Media & Creator Tools | Social Media & Creator Tools |
| Category rank | #1 of 17 | #16 of 17 |
| Developer | Snap Inc. | |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is YouTube better than Snapchat?
YouTube is the better app overall, scoring 8.7 to 8.0. YouTube wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Snapchat on 1.
Which is cheaper, YouTube or Snapchat?
YouTube: Free with ads; in the US, Premium is $15.99 a month and Premium Lite is $8.99. Snapchat: Free with ads; Snapchat+ is listed at $4.99 a month on the US App Store. On value for money, YouTube scores higher.
Do YouTube and Snapchat work on the same devices?
Yes, both run on iPhone & iPad, Android, Web.
Which is more private, YouTube or Snapchat?
Snapchat scores higher on privacy (5.8/10). The App Store label says contact info and identifiers may be used to track you. Location, contacts, purchases, search history and your content are linked to you. The app shows ads.
Strengths and weaknesses
YouTube
- Free to watch and post
- Clear rules for getting paid
- Works on phones, computers and TVs
- Lots of ads unless you pay for Premium
- Hard for brand new channels to get noticed
- Google links a lot of data to your account
YouTube is still the best place to watch and post longer videos. You can upload long videos, Shorts and live streams, all for free. Creators start earning from ads at 1,000 subscribers plus enough watch time, which is the clearest pay system of any big app. The downsides are lots of ads unless you pay for Premium, and Google links a lot of what you watch to your account.
Full YouTube review
Snapchat
- Great for quick, private chats with friends
- Fun face and camera effects
- Free, with all the main features
- Creator pay is invite-only and needs 50,000 followers
- Free Memories storage is capped at 5GB
- Layout can confuse new users
Snapchat is built for close friends, not crowds. You send photos and videos that vanish, keep streaks going, and play with Lenses that change your face or the world around you. Spotlight and Stories let you post to everyone, but the bar to get paid is high at 50,000 followers. It is free with ads. Free Memories storage is now capped at 5GB, and the layout can confuse new users.
Full Snapchat review
