How To Use Snapchat From Your Computer's Web Browser

Snapchat, the wildly popular app, has now made the leap to web browsers. It's called Snapchat for Web, and you'll feel right at home once you get logged in, assuming you've used the app before. There are some catches to it, but you can expect to see the same Snapchat you know and love, just on your computer. All you have to do is go to web.snapchat.com and log into your account. This doesn't mean much for people who like to post stories while they're out at a party, but it does let everyone catch up on stories from the comfort of a desktop or laptop afterward. Unfortunately, the feature is limited to Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome at the moment, though it may roll out to other major web browsers over time. You can also download the app from the Microsoft Store.

The company says more than 100 million users make voice and video calls each month, and that's part of why the leap to computers is happening. With any laptop worth its salt equipped with a webcam these days, users will seamlessly be able to make calls to friends. The big catch to all of this is that it's exclusive to the $4 per month Snapchat Plus subscription. There are plans to roll it out to all users free of charge eventually, but it's locked behind a paywall for the time being. There's currently no timetable for when it'll go free. 

You still have most of the same features as you would on the regular Snapchat app, so you should be able to make the leap from your smartphone to a computer quite easily. Users won't have the Lenses feature upon launch, but they'll still be able to view Stories, send messages, and make video and voice calls. Chats from the phone app will be instantly available via computer, so you'll be able to seamlessly pick up where you left off. While it's a solid alternative to using Snapchat on your phone, it's unlikely to ever be a full replacement for the mobile app. Don't expect to see people lugging their laptops to a concert to post on their stories. 

The web browsing feature is only available in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Snapchat has plans to roll out the service worldwide in the future. Just like we don't know when the service will become free of charge, we also don't have an official timetable for the global launch.