Snapchat has now made its “Imagine Lens”—the platform’s first AI Lens that allows users to generate images from open prompts—freely accessible to everyone. Previously, this feature was introduced in September but was limited to paying subscribers. With this Lens, users can modify their Snaps using personalized prompts or create entirely new images.
For example, after taking a selfie, you might ask the app to “make me look like an alien,” or request a picture of a “grumpy cat.” Snapchat recommends using the Lens to experiment with costume ideas for Halloween or to give your friends a new appearance, among other creative uses.
You can share the generated images with friends, post them to your Snapchat Story, or distribute them outside the app.
This wider release of the AI Lens comes after Meta (Meta AI) and OpenAI (Sora) introduced their own AI-powered video creation apps, which offer even more advanced features to attract younger audiences beyond simple photo edits.
For instance, Sora enables users to create videos of themselves by submitting a one-time video and audio sample, capturing their likeness. These AI-generated personas, called “cameos,” can be shared among friends, allowing them to appear together in videos.
This competitive landscape encourages platforms like Snapchat to innovate, making the free release of the AI image Lens a strategic move for the company.
Snapchat previously restricted access to the AI Lens to Lens+ and Snapchat Platinum subscribers. Now, with the broader launch, Snap is offering a limited number of image generations to all users at no cost. Initially, users in the U.S. will have access, with plans to expand to other regions such as Canada, the UK, and Australia.
You can find the Lens near the beginning of the in-app Lens Carousel, or search for it by its name. To start creating, tap the caption to enter your own prompt, or select from the suggested prompts if you need ideas.
Snapchat reports that users interact with Lenses over 8 billion times every day.
