Snapchat sees 10x advertiser growth in India as Brands Double Down on Gen Z Engagement

Snapchat has reported significant advertiser growth in India, underscoring the platform's increasing relevance among brands seeking to engage Gen Z consumers through immersive and interactive formats.

The company said the number of advertisers on its platform in India has grown tenfold over the past two years, while the number of advertisers spending across all four quarters has tripled during the same period.

According to Snap, the growth has been fuelled by the adoption of augmented reality (AR) advertising, chat-based ad formats and AI-powered advertising tools. The platform, which now reaches more than 250 million users in India, is witnessing increased interest from sectors such as fashion, beauty, entertainment, food delivery, quick commerce, sports and retail.

Pulkit Trivedi, Managing Director, India, Snap Inc., said the company has focused on building advertising solutions that align with how Gen Z communicates and engages online.

"We have been deliberate about building an ecosystem of advertising solutions rooted in how Gen Z communicates and engages today. Snapchat is the only platform that offers a multi-format ads stack suite comprising AR, video and high-attention ads on chat which focuses on driving meaningful outcomes for brands and businesses," he said.

Trivedi added that the momentum in India reflects a broader industry shift towards immersive and engagement-led marketing, as brands look for more meaningful ways to connect with consumers.

Brands including Swiggy and Zomato highlighted Snapchat's effectiveness in driving engagement and business outcomes through its advertising formats.

Rohit Kapoor, CEO, Swiggy Food Marketplace, said Snapchat has become an important channel for reaching Gen Z audiences through high-attention chat surfaces and AR experiences.

"Snapchat has proven to be a highly innovative and impactful channel for Swiggy, allowing us to natively insert our brand into the visual conversations of India's Gen Z through high-attention Chat surfaces and immersive AR," Kapoor said.

Sahibjeet Singh Sawhney, Marketing Head, Zomato, noted that Snapchat's combination of video, AR and Sponsored Snaps enables brands to create interactive experiences that foster deeper audience connections.

Industry experts also pointed to the growing strategic importance of the platform. Ashwin Padmanabham, COO, WPP Media South Asia, said brands increasingly view Snapchat as a scaled platform capable of delivering meaningful engagement with Gen Z consumers.

He noted that traditional digital advertising models often struggle to capture the attention of younger audiences, while Snapchat's communication-driven environment and interactive ad formats provide opportunities for stronger engagement and full-funnel business outcomes.

The company also highlighted the performance of ad formats such as AR Lenses and Sponsored Snaps, alongside continued investments in measurement, attribution and optimisation tools aimed at helping advertisers improve campaign effectiveness.