Heard people talk about Snapchat Planets and wondered what they are? In simple terms, they show your closest Snapchat friends as planets in a tiny solar system around your Bitmoji. It looks cute, but it also says a lot about who you talk to most.
Snapchat Planets are part of Snapchat Plus, the paid version of the app. In this guide, you will learn what each planet means, how the ranking works, how to get Snapchat Planets, what to know about privacy, and how to change your place in someone’s solar system.
Let’s break it down so it actually makes sense.
What Are Snapchat Planets and How Do They Work?
Snapchat Planets are a Snapchat Plus feature that turns your Best Friends list into a mini space scene. You are the Sun, and your top eight friends show up as planets around you, from Mercury to Neptune.
The closer the planet is to your Bitmoji, the closer that friend is to you on Snapchat. The app looks at how much you talk, Snap, and interact, then puts each friend in a planet spot.
You only get Snapchat Planets if you subscribe to Snapchat Plus, so not everyone will see them. Your friend ranking still exists even if you do not pay, but the solar system view is locked behind the subscription.
Simple definition of Snapchat Planets
Snapchat Planets show who your closest friends are, using planets instead of a normal list.
Each planet stands for a different spot in your Best Friends ranking.
- Mercury is your first closest friend.
- Venus is your second.
- Earth is your third.
- This pattern keeps going until Neptune, which is your eighth closest friend.
So if someone shows up as Earth, that means they are third on your Snapchat Best Friends list at that moment.
How the Snapchat Planets friend solar system works
In the solar system view, your Bitmoji is in the middle as the Sun. Around you, your best friends appear as planets in order: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
The app decides this order based on your activity with each person.
It likely looks at:
- How many Snaps you send each other
- How often you chat
- Whether you call each other
- How active your streaks are
Each person sees their own version of this solar system. That means your view of someone is not always the same as their view of you.
For example, you might see your best friend as Mercury, your number one. On their side, you might be Venus or Mars instead, if they talk to someone else more than you.
Who can see Snapchat Planets and where they appear in the app
Snapchat Planets are only visible to people who have Snapchat Plus.
If you have it, you can usually see the planets in two main places:
- When you tap on a friend’s Bitmoji from the chat list
- When you open their profile and look near their Best Friends badge or solar system icon
Your ranking is still based on real activity, even if you are not a Plus subscriber. You just will not see the planets.
Snapchat often updates design and features, so the exact icons or placements might change. The core idea usually stays the same, friend ranking shown as planets around your Bitmoji.
Snapchat Planets List: What Each Planet Means In Your Best Friends
Here is what each Snapchat Planet means for your friendship level inside the app.
Mercury on Snapchat Planets (Your #1 Best Friend)
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, so it stands for your number one best friend on Snapchat.
If someone is your Mercury friend:
- You talk or Snap with them the most
- You probably share streaks or daily chats
- Their planet appears small and very close to your Bitmoji
This is the person you are most active with on Snapchat right now.
Venus on Snapchat Planets (Your #2 Best Friend)
Venus is your second closest friend in the Snapchat Planets system.
This friend is still very active in your daily chats, but you interact with them a little less than your Mercury friend. Their planet sits just outside Mercury in your solar system.
You might talk to them almost every day, send memes, or share quick updates, but someone else still beats them in total activity.
Earth on Snapchat Planets (Your #3 Best Friend)
If someone shows up as Earth, they are third on your Best Friends list.
You stay active with this person, just slightly less than with your Mercury and Venus friends. Earth usually appears with blue and green colors, and it may have a small moon or tiny details that make it look like the real Earth.
This friend might be a close friend, a partner, or someone you share a lot of Snaps with during the week.
Mars on Snapchat Planets (Your #4 Best Friend)
Mars is your fourth closest friend on Snapchat.
This friend still matters a lot in your daily activity. You send them Snaps and chat often, but three other people currently sit ahead of them.
Mars usually shows up as a small red or orange planet. If you see someone as Mars, you are active, just not top three at the moment.
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune on Snapchat Planets (Friends #5 to #8)
The last four Snapchat Planets cover spots five through eight on your Best Friends list.
Here is the quick breakdown:
- Jupiter is your 5th closest friend, usually big and colorful
- Saturn is your 6th closest friend, often with a ring around it
- Uranus is your 7th closest friend
- Neptune is your 8th closest friend, often a darker blue
These people are still close friends on Snapchat. You talk to them more than most of your contacts, just not as much as your top four.
If someone drops from Neptune, it usually means you have not talked to them as much lately, or someone else passed them in activity.
How To Get Snapchat Planets And See Your Friend Solar System
If you do not see Snapchat Planets yet, you probably need Snapchat Plus or an app update.
Do you need Snapchat Plus to use Snapchat Planets?
Yes. Snapchat Planets are a Snapchat Plus feature at the time of writing.
Snapchat Plus is a paid version of the app that adds extra features on top of the normal, free Snapchat. These extras can include things like special icons, extra badges, and early access to new tools like the friend solar system.
The price and trial offers can change by country and by time, so you will see the most accurate details inside your own app.
Step by step: How to turn on Snapchat Plus and unlock Snapchat Planets
Here is a simple way to turn on Snapchat Plus on most phones:
- Open Snapchat on your device.
- Tap your Bitmoji in the top left to open your profile.
- Tap the settings gear in the top right.
- Look for "Snapchat+" or "Snapchat Plus" near the top of the settings list.
- Tap it and follow the steps to start a free trial or subscribe.
- When it is active, go back to your chats and profiles to look for the solar system icons.
If you do not see Snapchat Plus in settings, the feature might not be available in your region or you might need to update the app.
Where to tap to see your Snapchat Planets with each friend
Once you have Snapchat Plus, you can usually see Snapchat Planets in these spots:
- From the chat list, tap and hold or tap on a friend’s Bitmoji or name, then open their profile
- From their profile, look for a Best Friends badge, star, or small solar system icon
Tapping that area should show you their planet in your solar system.
If you do not see planets with a certain friend, a few things might be going on:
- They are not in your top eight friends
- Your Snapchat Plus subscription is not active
- Your app needs an update
- Snapchat is testing a slightly different design in your region
So if one friend has a planet but another does not, that second person might just not be in your Best Friends group right now.
How Snapchat Planets Decide Your Rank With Friends
Snapchat does not share every part of the ranking system, but common sense and user behavior give some strong hints.
Snapchat Planets are based on how much you interact with a friend inside the app. The more active you are with someone, the closer their planet is to your Bitmoji.
What affects your Snapchat Planets ranking with someone?
Users have noticed that these actions seem to matter a lot:
- Snaps sent and received: Photo and video Snaps in both directions
- Chats: How often you text each other in the app
- Reply speed: How quickly you answer each other
- Streaks: How long you keep Snapstreaks going
- Calls: Voice or video calls inside Snapchat
- Story views and reactions: How often you watch and respond to each other’s stories
Snapchat does not publish a full formula, so no one outside the company can see every detail. Still, if you talk to someone more than anyone else, they usually rise to a closer planet.
Why your Snapchat Planet can change over time
Your Snapchat Planet with someone is not locked in forever. It moves as your habits change.
Some common reasons your planet might move:
- You stop talking to someone as much as before
- You start snapping a new friend many times a day
- A streak breaks, and you forget to restart it
- You go on vacation or take a break from the app
When that happens, planets shift. A Mercury friend might drop to Mars or Jupiter if you barely speak for a week or two. Someone new might jump from Neptune up to Venus if you start snapping them all day.
So if you think, "My planet disappeared," it usually means you are no longer in that person’s top eight, or they are not in yours any more.
How to move up to a closer Snapchat Planet with a friend
If you want to move closer to someone in Snapchat Planets, focus on real interaction, not spam.
Some healthy ways to move up:
- Send meaningful Snaps, not just random blank photos
- Reply to their Snaps and chats more often
- Keep your streaks alive if they care about streaks
- Check in with them regularly over a few days or weeks
There is no instant hack that will force the ranking to change. The system looks at patterns over time.
Also, respect your friend’s space. If they are slow to reply or not very active, do not flood them with messages just to chase a Mercury spot. Planets are fun, but friendships are more important.
Privacy, Feelings, And Common Questions About Snapchat Planets
Snapchat Planets are cute, but they also touch on real feelings. Seeing your rank drop can sting, especially for teens.
This section clears up some common questions so you know what others can and cannot see.
Can other people see what Snapchat Planet they are for you?
People with Snapchat Plus can see their own version of the solar system, but they cannot see a full list of how every friend ranks them.
Key points:
- Each person sees their own solar system view
- Snapchat does not send alerts when planet ranks change
- Your friend might guess their rank if they use the feature a lot, but the app does not broadcast it to everyone
So if someone moves from Venus to Jupiter in your view, they will not get a message about it. They would only notice if they happen to open the Planets view on their side and compare.
Do Snapchat Planets mean you are better friends in real life?
No. Snapchat Planets only show how active you are with someone inside the app.
You might have a best friend in real life who hates texting or rarely uses Snapchat. They could show up as Neptune or not appear at all, but still be your closest person offline.
Try not to judge friendships only by a planet icon. Use Snapchat Planets for fun, not for stress or drama.
Conclusion
Snapchat Planets turn your Best Friends list into a small, colorful solar system inside the app. They are part of Snapchat Planets in Snapchat Plus, and they show your top eight friends as planets, with Mercury as number one and Neptune as number eight. The closer the planet, the more you talk.
Remember, planets update based on recent activity, not how much you care about someone in real life. Use them as a fun extra, not a strict score for your friendships.
If you are curious, open Snapchat, check your planets, and see who is orbiting closest to your Bitmoji.
Share this guide with a friend who is confused about their planet, and compare your solar systems together.
Quick Snapchat Planets FAQ (Myth busting and fast answers)
Here are some simple answers to common questions about Snapchat Planets.
Do Snapchat Planets show Snap score?
No. Snap score is separate. Planets only reflect friend ranking and activity with that person.
Can you turn Snapchat Planets off?
You can turn off Snapchat Plus or choose not to subscribe. That removes access to the Planets feature. Some settings may also let you hide certain badges, depending on your version of the app.
Do planets affect streaks?
No. Planets do not control streaks. They only show how close you are based on activity. Streaks still follow the normal rules.
Are Snapchat Planets permanent?
No. They change over time. Your place in someone’s solar system can move as your snapping habits change.
