Snapchat’s paid subscription is already a hit

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

The paid subscription service is proving to be a hit. The company says it has more than one million paid users.

A Snapchat Plus subscription gives users early access to features such as changing the app icon and seeing who re watches their stories. The first major feature for paid users was the introduction ofSnapchat fordesktop to subscribers.

A new set of features is being introduced for more than one million Plus subscribers. Priority story replies make Plus subscribers' responses more visible when they reply to snap stars with verifiedSnapchat accounts.

Special background for Bitmoji characters and new app icon designs are some of the features. After viewing a snap, subscribers will be able to add an expression to friends.

The paid tier was introduced in order to establish more sources of revenue. Changes to Apple's privacy settings introduced last year blew a hole in its advertising business, and it is among the many companies that have been affected.

At a time when there is unhappiness with its performance, the initial success with Plus is a good sign. In addition to the hit to advertising, the company is juggling broader economic problems, slowing growth at the company, and plans to lay off employees