6snap, the unofficial Snapchat client for Windows Phone 8, is now available

If there’s one app left standing for Windows Phone users, it would be Snapchat. The popular photo messaging app that allows your pics to ‘expire’ after a pre-determined viewing time does not have an official client for Windows Phone, but today we have the next best thing.

Developed by Rudy Huyn, the mind behind 6tag and 6sec, also very popular unofficial apps for Instagram and Vine, 6snap has been in the works for the last few weeks. Today, the app is available to all with Windows Phone 8 devices and it does not disappoint.

Head past the break for our video first-look and more information on where to get it.

Featuring the ability to manage your privacy settings, background agents for notifications, and even the Story mode, 6snap has all of the top design aesthetics that fans of Huyn’s work have come to expect. Here’s what the app can do:

6snap version 1.0

Share pictures and videos with Snapchat users
Post snaps on your story
See stories, best friends and score of your friends
Draw and add text to your pictures
Search Snapchat for friends on your phone
Save your picture on your phone
Front and back camera support
Manage your Snapchat privacy
Notifications with custom ringtone

Windows Phone exclusive features:

Lens support
Extend the picture hub (share menu, etc..)
Live tile

Although the Snapchat service is itself a simple concept, the 6snap app does an admirable job of mimicking everything you would expect from an official version (and more). Huyn has also promised “more features” coming soon, but for now, Windows Phone users should be quite pleased with this version.

Pick up 6snap, the unofficial Snapchat client for Windows Phone 8, here in the Store (or scan the QR code below). Free. Thanks, SuNcO, for the tip!

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been here covering Microsoft since 2007 when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Microsoft Surface, laptops, next-gen computing, and for some reason, watches. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics and ran the projectors at movie theaters, which has done absolutely nothing for his career.

271 Comments

Been using it a few days. Really well done. Congrats Rudy! Now ... who wants to snapchat?
HEY SAM, today should be national windows phone holiday!!!!! instagram, waze and 6snap, LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!
Actually, WP has been on a roll for a good week now.
indeed, but today was THE day..
+1, Not to mention the New Nokia Mix Radio as well. Plan to use Waze on the commute back home!
Don't forget that Mint is also on its way!
Yesterday it felt like xmas!!!
I can not belive this Rudy guy!!! I mean, less than a month ago he said he was working on a snapchat app and it`s already here, and full of quality features??? And also delivering regular updates to 6tag and 6sec while at it??? Damn!! Someone give this guy the "coding Nobel".
Agreed :)
Just to make sure... This does not have push notifications? Only gets them every 30 minutes?
Is everyone's live tile clearing once a notification is viewed? Mine hasn't....
Mine hasn't either :/
Chill out boys hella updates to come if u know his 6tag and 6sec so all will be well
Really excellent Rudy.
But I already work with two diferent Lumia 920 and 6Snap only keep me connect on one of them on SnapChat.
Does it possible keep on both simultaneously like 6Tag and 6Sec? Cheers, Edit: Rudy already reply, it's SnapChat restriction. We can only be connected from ONE device! (AWESOME APP & Developer - 5 Stars)
Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!
Hats off to Mr Rudy. Once again he does it and his work is much better than official apps. My wish would be if he could make 6face or something like that for facebook. I am sure his app will be better than official app and many many many people would prefer his app over official app. Also out of social networks facebook might be most popular one.
I would definitely pay a dollar or 2 (₹110 in India) if he did make 6face or 6book.. Not a big user of anything apart from Facebook and twitter.
Thats what I have been thinking. People would pay happily if there is some good facebook app. Surely Rudy's app will be awesome as are his other apps.
Nice
Very nice indeed
OK... what is the deal with the number SIX??? one wonders
I guess it all started with the six seconds of vine in 6sec.
Actually, Rudy is the devil. This completes his trilogy and the end is nigh. With this announcement, I have entered my bunker for the apocalypse.
+920
He must be!! A couple of weeks ago he said he was working on this and it`s already done!!! And also delivering regular updates to 6tag and 6sec while working on 6snap. His pace is out of this world!!
And he stated on twitter multiple times that 6snap was only a weekend thing. So its way less than three weeks. Probably crammed into 5-7 days of real hard work! #BeastMode
Hahahah
+lumia666
And it looks like G, for ista6ram.
Part of it was that a number will appear at the top of the app list.
Yup, instagram did not allow any app to use word insta or tag, same with vine. Rudy had to rename vine to 6sec and then it became his brand.
9Gag started with a number too
Also, if you check your app list, all these apps will be grouped together, on the top. Pretty clever way to trademark the naming convention while grouping the apps together in the app list.
Just leave all the unofficial app to Rudy!
im sure his version of the 8.1 update would be sick: 8.6
Rudy is the man!!!
Good day today
Today is just flooded with new apps to download!
Rudy, the wp community salute your dedication and hard work. You and Nokia have ensured and made WP what it is today. Thank you.
+1000. Yes we salute Rudy n Nokia...
Agreed
+1
Noice.
What a day for windows phone!
Whoop! Downloading now.
T minus zero and counting for the undoubtedly inferior official app :P that's bound to hit WP
I've got bad feeling about "6" in three times.
Don't worry, the number is six hundred and sixty six, not three successive sixes such as this. You should be ok.
Use your aggressive feelings, boy. Let the hate flow through you.
Woe to you, oh Earth and Sea...
yeah me too.. ._.
YES
Great! Now I can finally delete swapchat :)
Or do we....can always screenshot with no one knowing on swapchat, might be worth keeping in the arsenal
You're a...youre a monster.
Dont hate the player, hate the game
Is this real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide.
No escape from reality
Open your eyes
Look up to the skies and see...
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
C-C-C-C-Combo Breaker!
hats off JoRdaNeK! LOOOOOOOOOOOOOL made my day.
^ this man has won the internet. well done, sir.
hahah this was good stuff
Yesss!
Rudy is the man! He's making those big name apps come! Without him we may not even have an official Vine or Instagram!
After facebook, twitter, vine, I drew the line at instagram man! No more social media anything for me
Will this get pulled like what happened to Swapchat?
Would like to know too
Rudy Huxable, you the man. Man!
One developer continues to just crush official apps. Lack of resources, or lack of effort. Rudy does what companies say they can't. This is an excellent example of an overachiever. You sir continue to earn my respect.
+6
Indeed! The companies of the "official" apps should be embarrased.
EXACTLY! and when companies like Google (who tend to be big believers of openness) give this alibi that they have lack of "resources" when it comes to Windows (Windows Store / WP store) apps, its a joke. When companies like Microsoft make apps for all three platforms and they don't get any love from Apple/Google in return (in terms of apps published in Windows and Windows Phone stores), its just sad. I am a developer and with my ONE designer friend, I am able to publish few apps accross three platforms single-handedly, how?.. I keep the business logic in worlds most portable language: C++ while keeping the presentation layer isolated (XAML in case of Windows Phone, Windows Store). Anyways guys, the developers of Snapchat seems to be open minded, otherwise they wouldn't have this page http://support.snapchat.com/ca/incompatible Please everyone click on Windows Phone (just once) and hope they get convinced and come up with a gorgeous official version too. Meanwhile, kudus to Rudy! I am a big fan <3
Whoa! This day has been amazing for WP, i really think today is the day my phone has everything at the same time, is there truly anything else we need? I'm stumped and happy because of it
Is there a way to remove ads??
Yeah, just put masking tape over that part of the phone screen
Nevermind, paid $1.29 to remove :)
That had me chuckling, good internetting sir!
Click the ... button and there is an option to 'remove ads' with a purchase.
Thanks...was looking a way to give Rudy my money....he definitely deserves it! Good job again Rudy!
Today is a great day to be a WP user.
What a great day for apps
Well done Rudy!
What is it? AWESOME APP DAY FOR WP?
Thank you based Rudy. #blessed #pervmode
I can't breath anymore. Too many good damn new apps! Hosh hosh hosh hosh
Can someone explain SnapChat to me? Is there a use case scenario that doesn't invove sending your tits across the wire?
Man the [#] section of my app list is getting full with all these 6xxxx apps!
I'm still waiting for path :'(
Lol who would've thought instagram and vine would arrive before path
Me too I even tweeted at them for a date and they replied with "nothing to announce" ugh
So we can pray and wait...
Thank you Rudy! Been a truly great week for WP8. Its made bigger strides in that timeframe than it normally does in two months. Rudy Huyn, youre a credit to the platform you hold passion for, thanks again.
I don't use Snapchat and probably never will but I'd bet any amount of money that this app is better than the official one on t' other platforms. Even the logos are better on Rudy's apps. Lovely stuff, as Shakin Stevens might say.
Rudy is ze best!!!!
If I remove the ads and then change my phone, do I have to pay again?
Nope! It'll remember!
Purchases are tied to your MS account.
Thank you both of you for your answers. I have bought plenty of apps but I haven't done any of these IAP to remove ads. :D
Time to start sexting! (that's the point of this, right?)
Pretty much. Or do any other manner of "secret" messaging with someone you don't want someone/others to know about... =)
Actually, no. Noone on my friends list sexts. I use it for sending pictures of funny stuff i see to everyone on my friends list. You COULD use it for sexting but my snapchat experience has been without any of that.
Will probably also be better than snapchat
Does this auto add people like whatsapp? From you contacts?
It does have a feature to search your contacts to see who's using it and if you want to add them as a friend.
Yeah
Is it just me or does phone number verification not work internationally? Tried two numbers. One in Germany and one in Netherlands. Anyone?
Gotta use your respective country codes bro
I did. Did it with 00XX and with +XX. No luck yet
No you don't. I didn't. And im in Australia. Worked a charm
As usual , great app from Rudy but I think its about tine he starts with his own app ..
Why?
Because he clearly has the talent and capacity to make an original app. I find all the unofficial apps that's he's making useful but its sad to see him waste time on clones.
He's not wasting his time at all :/ I use all his "6" apps everyday, and I've gladly paid for them. He HAS designed other original apps you know. Check his portfolio. I'd be delighted if he just kept doing what he's doing, because he does a damn good job.
He is filling a need. That is what good developers do. The see an unmet need and create an app. If there were good vine, instagram, and snapchat apps available, he would need to make another app that does the same thing. However, there weren't any of those app and Rudy filled that hole with apps that are better than the official one's on other platforms. That is a mark of an excellent developer.
The "Find Friend" activation thing; I've tried entering my number twice and I haven't received any verification code. .... Anyone know why?
Ah, never mind, figured it out.
Tell us?
Haha, sorry. You have to use your country code prefix. E.g. I'm in Ireland so I put 00353XXXXXXXXX. No dashes, hashes or any of that nonsense, just bang in your number straight and you should get a text shortly after. Although the app didn't pull many contacts from my list for some reason, maybe only 10% of the people who have it installed. Not sure if that's 6snaps problem or Snapchats.
Yeah i didn't need to do that at all. Im in australia. Just worked.
Make sure to use -'s like 123-123-1234 not 1231231234 or it won't work I found.
It looks like it worked with +country code and number.
Or not..I don't know anymore.
Beatiful app.
I'm liking this guy! Windows phone ftw!
Someone figure out how to take screenshots please :) It worked in swap chat. Also I cant figure out how to send a video, seems to be a hidden functionality.
Are snaps received pushed, or do we have to wait the 30 minute tile update time?
Same question here.
Also confused on this.
Definitely looks like nothing gets pushed. I have received a few messages and nothing shows up on the lockscreen even though I put the app as one of the apps to show in the lock screen. Sad face. :(
IDK about that... I got a notification that a friend accepted my request?
So maybe it's me... Nooooo. :(
I think it is. I've been getting notifications and the live tile is working.
Hey guys i thought with snapchat we could send messages too and i didn't find how to do that. Maybe i'm wrong. Someone can confirm?
Just tap the picture and a bar comes up :-)
Oh thanks but is it possible just to send messages without pictures?
That's called SMS.
LOL you know i'm just testing the app because i like what Rudy Huyn is doing on WP but i don't think i will use it a lot, because i don't see this app so useful. For me It's just a way to send crap stuff. Anyway i was just wondering about the features and how i could use the app.
It's stupid, but fun for the kids I guess :) You can take a picture of a flat surface, then write something though, but you have to take a picture or video :)
yes i saw that, but if this app was pulled out from the store i don't think i will miss it.
Anyone worked out how to add text to a snap? Can't seem to do it...
I think that's missing.
Says in the description that its possible..
Oh, I think you just tap the pencil. Right?
Fraid not. That's for drawing, not text!
Just tap the image
Will give it a go, thanks!
Rudy, Rudy, Rudy
6pin inc!
Someone give Rudy a medal
That 1520 is looking amazing!
@RudyHuyn RESPECT. The guy is the Cristiano Ronaldo of the coding world.