Snapchat Planets: Friend Solar System on Snapchat+

If you’ve recently subscribed to Snapchat+ or noticed planet emojis on a friend’s profile, you’re probably wondering what they mean. The Snapchat Planets feature — officially called the Friend Solar System — is one of the most talked-about premium features inside the Snapchat app.

It turns your closest friendships into a miniature solar system. You are the Sun, and your top eight best friends orbit around you as planets. The closer the planet is to the Sun, the stronger your interaction ranking.

Let’s break everything down clearly so you fully understand how Snapchat Planets work, what each planet means, privacy details, and how to enable or troubleshoot the feature.

What Are Snapchat Planets?

Snapchat Planets is a visual ranking system available exclusively to Snapchat+ subscribers. It shows your top eight friends based on how often you:

• Send Snaps
• Exchange Chats
• Interact consistently
• Maintain streaks

Instead of showing just a simple list, Snapchat uses a solar system theme:

• You = The Sun
• Your Best Friends = Planets
• Ranking = Distance from the Sun

The closer the planet, the higher the ranking.

This feature adds a gamified, fun way to understand your social activity on Snapchat.

How Snapchat Determines Planet Rankings

Snapchat does not publicly reveal its full algorithm, but rankings are based on:

• Frequency of snaps exchanged
• Chat interaction volume
• Recency of communication
• Streak activity
• Overall engagement consistency

It’s not about followers or popularity. It’s about mutual interaction.

So if you snap someone daily, they are more likely to become Mercury (your #1 planet).

Snapchat Planets in Order (Full Breakdown)

Here’s the complete ranking order inside the Friend Solar System:

The system mirrors the real solar system order, making it intuitive and visually appealing.

What Each Snapchat Planet Represents

Let’s look at what each planet symbolizes in more detail.

Mercury – Your #1 Best Friend

This is your strongest Snapchat connection. You snap and chat with this person more than anyone else.

Venus – Your 2nd Best Friend

Still very close interaction, just slightly less than Mercury.

Earth – Your 3rd Best Friend

A regular, consistent friend but not your top two.

Mars – Your 4th Best Friend

Frequent communication but not daily dominance.

Jupiter – Your 5th Best Friend

Active friendship, but less intense.

Saturn – Your 6th Best Friend

You interact often, but others rank higher.

Uranus – Your 7th Best Friend

Still inside your top circle.

Neptune – Your 8th Best Friend

The outermost planet — still important, but lowest among the top eight.

How to Enable Snapchat Planets

Important: The Friend Solar System feature is off by default, even if you have Snapchat+.

To enable it:

1. Open Snapchat.
2. Tap your profile icon.
3. Tap the Snapchat+ banner.
4. Toggle on Friend Solar System.

Once enabled, planet badges will appear on friend profiles.

What Are Snapchat Friendship Badges?

When you visit a friend’s profile, you may see badges:

• Best Friends Badge
• Friends Badge

Here’s what they mean:

This adds another layer of insight into your mutual interaction level.

Is Snapchat Planets Private?

Yes — and this is very important.

The Friend Solar System is private.

• Only you can see your full solar system.
• Friends cannot see your entire ranking.
• They can only see their own position in your system.
• Both users must have Snapchat+ enabled to view planet badges.

This protects user privacy while still allowing gamified interaction.

Why Snapchat Introduced the Planet Feature

Snapchat is known for:

• Streaks
• Snapscore
• Bitmoji
• Story reactions

With Snapchat+, the platform wanted to add premium gamification features.

The Friend Solar System:

• Encourages daily interaction.
• Makes friendship rankings more visual.
• Adds exclusivity for subscribers.
• Keeps engagement high.

It taps into human psychology — we like rankings and social validation.

Psychological Appeal of Snapchat Planets

You might not realize it, but this feature plays into:

• Social comparison theory
• Reward systems
• Digital validation
• Competitive engagement

If someone moves from Earth to Venus, you feel closer.

If you drop from Mercury to Mars, you may increase snapping frequency.

Snapchat understands user behavior deeply.

Can Planet Rankings Change?

Yes — and they change frequently.

Your ranking depends on:

• Daily interaction levels.
• Recent activity.
• Communication consistency.

If you stop snapping someone daily, they may move outward in your solar system.

If you start interacting more with someone new, they may rise toward Mercury.

It’s dynamic, not permanent.

Common Questions About Snapchat Planets

Many users worry about:

• Losing their #1 position.
• Seeing someone as Mercury but not being theirs.
• Why a planet badge disappeared.
• Why the feature is not showing.

Most of these issues relate to:

• Subscription status.
• Feature being turned off.
• Decreased interaction.
• App needing an update.

Troubleshooting Missing Snapchat Planet Badge

If you don’t see planet badges:

1. Make sure you are subscribed to Snapchat+.
2. Confirm Friend Solar System is enabled.
3. Update your Snapchat app.
4. Restart the app.
5. Check if the friend also has Snapchat+.

If the friend does not subscribe to Snapchat+, badges may not display properly.

Snapchat+ and Exclusive Features

Snapchat Planets is part of Snapchat+, which includes:

• Custom app icons
• Story rewatch indicator
• Ghost Trails on Snap Map
• Snapchat for Web access
• Priority story replies
• Custom notification sounds

The solar system feature is one of the most visually appealing additions.

Does Snapchat Planets Affect Real Friendships?

Here’s something important.

It’s a ranking system based on app interaction — not emotional closeness.

You might:

• Be very close in real life.
• But snap less frequently.
• And therefore rank lower.

Don’t let a planet emoji define your real-world relationships.

Pros and Cons of Snapchat Planets

It’s entertaining, but it should be taken lightly.

How Snapchat Planets Impacts Engagement

From a business perspective, Snapchat:

• Increases daily active usage.
• Encourages streak maintenance.
• Boosts Snapchat+ subscriptions.
• Reduces churn rate.

Gamified features keep users emotionally invested.

And emotional investment equals retention.

Should You Subscribe Just for Snapchat Planets?

That depends on you.

If you:

• Love Snapchat gamification.
• Care about best friend rankings.
• Enjoy visual social features.
• Use Snapchat daily.

Then Snapchat+ might be worth it.

If you:

• Rarely use Snapchat.
• Don’t care about ranking.
• Prefer private messaging apps.

Then it may not add much value.

Final Thoughts: What Snapchat Planets Really Means

Snapchat Planets is not just a cute visual feature. It’s a smart combination of:

• Social psychology
• Gamification mechanics
• Premium exclusivity
• Interaction tracking

You are the Sun.
Your closest Snapchat friends orbit around you.

The closer the planet, the stronger the digital connection.

But remember:

Your real friendships are not measured by emojis or planetary distance.

Use the feature for fun.
Don’t let it define your relationships.

And now that you understand Snapchat Planets completely — you can enjoy the Friend Solar System with clarity instead of confusion.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are Snapchat Planets?

Snapchat Planets are part of the Snapchat+ Friend Solar System feature, where your top eight best friends are ranked as planets orbiting you based on interaction frequency.

2. Is Snapchat Planets available to everyone?

No, Snapchat Planets is exclusive to Snapchat+ subscribers. Regular Snapchat users cannot access the Friend Solar System feature.

3. How does Snapchat decide planet rankings?

Rankings are based on how often you snap, chat, and interact with someone. More frequent and consistent communication moves a friend closer to the Sun.

4. What does Mercury mean on Snapchat?

Mercury represents your #1 Best Friend — the person you interact with the most on Snapchat through snaps and chats.

5. Can someone see their planet position in my solar system?

They can only see their own badge if both of you have Snapchat+ enabled, but they cannot see your full friend ranking list.

6. Do Snapchat Planet rankings change?

Yes, rankings update automatically based on your recent activity and interaction patterns with your friends.

7. How do I enable the Friend Solar System?

Go to your profile, tap the Snapchat+ banner, and toggle on the Friend Solar System feature if you are subscribed.

8. What does the Best Friends badge mean?

The Best Friends badge means you are both in each other’s top eight friend rankings.

9. What does the Friends badge mean?

The Friends badge means you are in their top eight, but they are not in yours.

10. Does Snapchat Planets affect real friendships?

No, it only reflects in-app interaction frequency and does not measure emotional closeness or real-life relationship strength.