Snapchat advertising is one of the most powerful ways to connect with younger audiences in 2025, especially if you’re looking to build real engagement and brand awareness. In this complete guide, you’ll learn how Snapchat ads work, the different types of ad formats, how much they cost, how to target your audience effectively, and smart tips to get the best results—even on a small budget. Whether you’re just starting out or want to improve your current campaigns, this walkthrough will help you understand everything clearly.
As of early 2025, Snapchat has over 422 million daily active users, with over 70% of its audience aged between 13 and 34—making it a goldmine for brands targeting Gen Z and Millennials. On average, users spend about 31 minutes a day on Snapchat, mainly enjoying vertical, entertaining content like Stories and quick updates from friends or creators.If your brand wants to stay relevant and visible where attention is high, Snapchat is no longer optional—it’s essential.
But we get it: figuring out Snapchat ads can feel confusing. That’s why this guide breaks it all down in plain, simple language—no marketing jargon, no complicated steps. Just clear help to get your ads up and running with real impact. Keep reading—you’re about to get full clarity.
What Is Snapchat Advertising and How Does It Work?
Snapchat advertising means showing your brand’s ads inside the Snapchat app—like between Stories or on the Discover page. You create these ads using Snapchat’s Ad Manager and choose who should see them based on age, location, interests, and more.
What Exactly Is Snapchat Advertising?
Snapchat advertising lets businesses and brands show ads to Snapchat users. These ads are quick, full-screen experiences designed to instantly catch the viewer’s eye and make an impact. You can use them to promote a product, bring people to your website, grow app downloads, or just spread your message.
How It Works (Simple Steps):
- Set Up a Snapchat Business Account
- Snapchat Ads Manager is your go-to tool for creating, managing, and tracking your ad campaigns all in one place.
- Choose Your Goal – like website visits, leads, or brand awareness
- Upload Your Ad Creative – image or video
- Pick Your Target Audience – age, gender, interests, etc.
- Launch Your Campaign
Once your ad is live, it will appear:
- Between friends’ stories
- On Discover and Spotlight tabs
- As branded filters or lenses
Snapchat ads are perfect for brands that want to connect with younger audiences. It’s a great platform to show fun, creative content in a short and engaging way.
Snapchat advertising has quickly become a go-to option for brands looking to engage with younger audiences in a more natural and mobile-focused way. Its full-screen format blends smoothly into the user experience, allowing your ad to feel less like an interruption and more like part of the content. Whether you’re promoting a product, app, or service, Snapchat advertising gives you the tools to create fun, fast, and engaging campaigns that actually get noticed.
Snapchat Ad Formats Explained
Snapchat ad formats include single image/video ads, story ads, collection ads, AR filters and lenses, and commercial ads. Each format is made for full-screen mobile use and can help promote products, raise brand awareness, or drive traffic.
Main Types of Snapchat Ads
- Single Image or Video Ads
- Appear in between content
- Good for quick promotions
- Add swipe-up links to websites or products
- Appear in between content
- Story Ads
- Show as a series of Snaps
- Appear under the “Discover” section
- Best for storytelling or product showcases
- Show as a series of Snaps
- Collection Ads
- A main video/image + product tiles below
- Let people shop directly from the ad
- Great for e-commerce and sales
- A main video/image + product tiles below
- AR Lenses and Filters
- Fun, interactive ads using augmented reality
- Users can play with your product virtually
- Great for brand engagement
- Fun, interactive ads using augmented reality
- Commercial Ads
- Non-skippable for up to 6 seconds
- Best for brand awareness
- Non-skippable for up to 6 seconds
Which Format Should You Choose?
- Want people to click to your website? → Use single image/video
- Want people to buy? → Try collection ads
- Want people to engage? → Use AR lenses or filters
Why Use Snapchat Advertising in 2025?
Snapchat is one of the most active social platforms among Gen Z and Millennials in 2025. It gives your business a chance to connect with this audience using fun, full-screen ads that users enjoy and respond to.
Top Reasons to Choose Snapchat Advertising
- Reach Younger Audiences
- Over 70% of Snapchat users are under 35
- Perfect for youth-focused brands
- Over 70% of Snapchat users are under 35
- High Engagement
- Ads feel natural in the app
- People tap, swipe, and interact more than on other platforms
- Ads feel natural in the app
- Better Mobile Experience
- Ads are made for full-screen phones
- No distractions – just your brand front and center
- Ads are made for full-screen phones
- Affordable for Small Businesses
- You can start with as little as $5/day
- Better ROI for certain industries than Instagram or TikTok
- You can start with as little as $5/day
Snapchat isn’t about likes or followers—it’s about direct interaction. Ads feel like part of the user’s natural flow, making them more likely to watch and take action.
How to Set Up Your Snapchat Ad Campaign
Start your Snapchat ad campaign by logging into the Ads Manager, picking what you want to achieve, adding your visuals, setting a budget that works for you, and selecting the audience you want to reach. Then, launch the ad and track results from your dashboard.
Step-by-Step Campaign Setup
- Create a Snapchat Business Account
- Visit ads.snapchat.com
- Sign in with your email and business info
- Visit ads.snapchat.com
- Choose an Objective
- Website visits
- App installs
- Leads or form fills
- Brand awareness
- Website visits
- Set a Budget
- Daily or lifetime budget
- Start small and scale as results come in
- Daily or lifetime budget
- Create Your Ad
- Upload image or video
- Add swipe-up link and call-to-action
- Upload image or video
- Define Your Audience
- Age, location, gender, interests, device type
- Age, location, gender, interests, device type
- Launch Your Campaign
- Review everything
- Click “Publish” to go live
- Review everything
Use simple visuals with clear CTAs like “Swipe Up,” “Learn More,” or “Shop Now.”
Targeting Options on Snapchat Ads
Snapchat offers detailed targeting options based on location, age, gender, interests, behaviors, and custom audiences. You can also retarget people who’ve interacted with your brand before.
Types of Targeting Options on Snapchat
- Demographics
- Age
- Gender
- Language
- Device type
- Age
- Location-Based Targeting
- Reach people in specific cities or areas
- Great for local businesses or events
- Reach people in specific cities or areas
- Interests and Lifestyles
- Sports, fashion, travel, tech, and more
- Choose based on user behavior
- Sports, fashion, travel, tech, and more
- Custom Audiences
- Upload your email list
- Target users who visited your website
- Retarget people who interacted with past ads
- Upload your email list
The more precisely you target your audience, the more your ad will resonate and connect with the right people. You’ll spend less money showing ads to the wrong people and more time getting clicks from your ideal audience.
Snapchat Ad Costs in 2025: What You Need to Know Before Spending
You can start running Snapchat ads with a budget as low as $5 per day. The total cost varies based on factors like your campaign goals, audience reach, and bidding strategy. Typically, advertisers are charged per 1,000 views (CPM) or when someone swipes up on the ad.
How Snapchat Charges You
- CPM (Cost Per 1,000 Impressions)
- You’re charged each time your ad reaches 1,000 views.
- Great for awareness
- You’re charged each time your ad reaches 1,000 views.
- CPS (Cost Per Swipe)
- You pay only when someone swipes up
- Good for website traffic or leads
- You pay only when someone swipes up
- Daily and Lifetime Budgets
- You set how much you’re willing to spend
- Snapchat won’t go over that
- You set how much you’re willing to spend
Typical Snapchat Ad Costs in 2025
- Minimum daily spend: $5
- CPM range: $2 – $6 per 1,000 views
- Swipe-up cost: $0.30 – $1.00 per swipe
What Affects the Cost?
- How competitive your audience is
- Time of day and season
- Ad quality and engagement rate
Best Practices & Tips for Snapchat Advertising Success
To run successful Snapchat ads, use short videos, clear text, bold visuals, and a direct call-to-action. Target the right audience and test different versions to see what works best.
Simple Tips to Improve Snapchat Ads
Running ads on Snapchat is not just about launching them—it’s about making them work. Follow these tried-and-tested tips for better results:
Keep It Short and Clear
- Snapchat users scroll fast.
- Get your message across in the first 2–3 seconds.
- Use videos under 10 seconds if possible.
Use a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)
- Always tell users what to do next.
- Examples:
- Swipe up to buy
- Tap to learn more
- Get your offer now
- Swipe up to buy
Make It Visually Appealing
- Use bold colors and clean visuals.
- Avoid too much text or clutter.
- Keep it vertical for the best experience.
Test and Learn
- Try different versions of your ad.
- Change headlines, images, or CTAs.
- Monitor results inside Snapchat Ad Manager.
Target the Right Audience
- Use filters like age, location, and interests.
- Focus your budget on people who are more likely to engage.
Real Examples of Successful Snapchat Ad Campaigns
Successful Snapchat ads use simple, fast visuals with strong calls-to-action and target the right users. Many brands have increased sales and engagement using short videos and smart targeting.
Examples of What Works
Let’s look at two simplified examples that show how brands use Snapchat ads effectively.
Example 1: Clothing Brand Sale
- Goal: Increase summer sales
- Strategy: Short video of models wearing seasonal outfits
- CTA: Swipe up for 30% off
- Result: 4 times more clicks than Instagram ads
Example 2: App Promotion
- Goal: Boost new app installs
- Strategy: Video showing the app in use
- Audience: Targeted 18–25 year-olds interested in gaming
- Result: 20,000 installs in two weeks
Why These Ads Worked
- Clear message
- Short video content
- Engaging design
- Relevant targeting
- Strong call-to-action
Snapchat ads don’t need to be expensive or complex. What matters most is clarity, creativity, and connecting with the right audience.
Snapchat Ads vs. Other Platforms
Snapchat ads are ideal for targeting younger users with short, full-screen videos. Compared to Instagram and TikTok, Snapchat offers a less crowded space and often lower costs for niche audiences.
Snapchat Compared to Instagram and TikTok
Snapchat
- Best for: Audiences aged 13–34
- Format: Full-screen vertical video
- Strengths: High visual engagement, easy targeting
- Challenges: Smaller reach than other platforms
- Best for: Audiences aged 18–44
- Format: Stories, Reels, feed posts
- Strengths: Visual and lifestyle appeal
- Challenges: Competitive ad space and higher costs
TikTok
- Best for: Audiences aged 16–30
- Format: Full-screen videos with audio focus
- Strengths: Viral potential and high watch time
- Challenges: Creative content needs to be highly native and trend-aware
Which Platform Should You Choose?
- If your product targets Gen Z or college students → Try Snapchat
- If you want to reach a broad lifestyle audience → Consider Instagram
- If your content is fun and creative → Explore TikTok
Snapchat advertising stands out for its simplicity and focus on fast, full-screen storytelling.
Is Snapchat Advertising Right for Your Business in 2025?
Professional snapchat advertising is a smart option for businesses targeting younger users. It’s affordable, mobile-focused, and designed to quickly grab attention with creative visuals.
How to Know If Snapchat Ads Fit Your Brand
Snapchat advertising is a good fit if:
- Your audience is under 35
- You have eye-catching products or short video content
- You want to increase awareness or boost quick actions
- You have a limited budget but want to test ads affordably
Snapchat may not be the right fit if:
- Your audience is mostly over 40
- You offer complex services needing long explanation
- You don’t have visuals or creatives to work with
Snapchat keeps advertising simple and budget-friendly, making it a great option even for small businesses just getting started. With smart targeting and creative videos, you can get real engagement without a big budget. If your audience is on Snapchat, your brand should be there too.
If you’re planning your next digital campaign, Sponsored ads on Snapchat deserves a spot in your strategy. It’s cost-effective, easy to manage, and offers powerful targeting options to help you reach exactly the right people. Whether you’re a small business or a growing brand, now is the right time to test Snapchat advertising and see how it can support your goals in 2025 and beyond.
