Snapchat Planets | Complete Guide 2026
Snapchat planets confuse millions of users daily. You see a strange badge on your friend’s profile. Planets orbit around something. What does it even mean?
Here’s the reality: You’re looking at friendship rankings visualized. Snapchat created this to gamify your social connections. It’s called the Friend Solar System. You become the Sun. Your eight closest friends become planets orbiting you.
This guide reveals everything about snap planets. You’ll learn each planet’s meaning. You’ll discover how rankings actually work. Plus, you’ll get actionable strategies to climb higher.
No fluff. Just clear, practical answers.
What Are Snapchat Planets?
Snapchat planets show your top eight friends visually. Think of it simply: You’re the Sun at the center. Your friends orbit as planets around you.
This feature launched with Snapchat Plus in 2022. It’s exclusive to premium subscribers. The official name is Friend Solar System.
How the Snapchat Solar System Works
The concept is brilliantly simple. Your most frequent contact becomes Mercury. Your eighth contact becomes Neptune. Everything follows real solar system order.
Snapchat tracks every interaction you make. Every snap sent counts. Chat messages matter. Story views register too. Even voice calls influence rankings.
The algorithm updates constantly throughout the day. Your planets shift positions based on engagement. Someone who was Mars yesterday might become Venus today.
Why This Feature Exists
Snapchat wanted to make friendships competitive and visual. They succeeded. Users naturally want higher rankings in friend’s systems.
However, controversy followed quickly. Users felt judged and ranked. Parents worried about teen social pressure. Snapchat responded by making it optional. Now it’s disabled by default.
Snapchat Planets in Order: Complete Breakdown
Understanding snap planets order is critical. Each position tells a unique friendship story. Here’s the complete ranking from closest to farthest.
Mercury: Your #1 Best Friend
Mercury sits closest to your Sun. This person gets maximum attention from you. You exchange snaps constantly. Chats flow every single day. Streaks stay unbroken.
The visual shows a red planet with five hearts floating between Bitmojis. This represents your strongest digital connection. Mercury friendships usually mirror your closest real-life relationships.
Key indicators:
- Daily snap exchanges without fail
- Active ongoing chat conversations
- Long-standing snapstreaks (100+ days)
- Frequent story views and replies
Venus: Your Second Closest Connection
Venus represents your #2 best friend position. The planet appears brown with colorful hearts surrounding it. Both Bitmojis smile warmly at each other.
You communicate regularly with Venus. Maybe not daily like Mercury. But multiple times weekly for sure. The bond stays strong and consistent.
Earth: Your Third Best Friend
Earth holds third place in your system. You’ll see your home planet with hearts and stars. A small moon circles around it. This symbolizes reliable, steady friendship.
These friends matter significantly to you. You share important life moments together. Conversations happen frequently. But intensity drops slightly compared to your top two.
Mars: Steady and Active (#4)
Mars appears as a vibrant red planet. Blue and purple hearts surround it with stars adding energy. This represents your fourth closest friend.
Mars friendships feel solid and natural. You snap regularly without obsessing. Chats happen when something interesting comes up. The connection flows effortlessly.
Jupiter: Fairly Frequent Contact (#5)
Jupiter shows as a large striped orange planet. Multiple hearts and stars surround it decoratively. This marks your fifth-ranked friend.
Interaction happens often enough to maintain connection. You might snap few times weekly. Group chats probably include this person. The friendship stays active but casual.
Saturn: Occasional Engagement (#6)
Saturn displays its iconic rings clearly. Fewer decorations appear here compared to others. Some stars but no hearts. This friend ranks sixth.
You engage occasionally with Saturn friends. Maybe you check their stories regularly. You send snaps when something relevant pops up. It’s comfortable and low-pressure.
Uranus: Infrequent But Present (#7)
Uranus appears as a greenish-blue planet. The visual looks noticeably more distant. No hearts appear at all. This represents your seventh friend.
These friendships feel lighter and less intense. You might have added them recently. Or perhaps you grew apart slightly. Either way, you interact enough to keep them in your top eight.
Neptune: Your Eighth Friend
Neptune sits farthest from your Sun. The deep blue planet has minimal decoration. The Bitmoji doesn’t even face you directly. This shows maximum distance.
Your Neptune friend receives least attention. Snaps are rare. Chats happen occasionally. But they still matter enough to make your best friends list.
Snapchat Planets Best Friends List: Ranking Table
| Planet | Position | Visual Elements | Interaction Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury | #1 | Red planet, 5 hearts | Daily contact, strongest bond |
| Venus | #2 | Brown planet, colorful hearts | Multiple times weekly |
| Earth | #3 | Blue planet, moon, hearts | Regular important friend |
| Mars | #4 | Red planet, blue/purple hearts | Several times weekly |
| Jupiter | #5 | Large striped planet, stars | Fairly frequent, casual |
| Saturn | #6 | Orange planet, rings, stars | Occasional, comfortable |
| Uranus | #7 | Green-blue planet, layers | Infrequent but present |
| Neptune | #8 | Deep blue, minimal decoration | Rare but familiar |
What Influences Your Snapchat Planets Ranking
The snapchat solar system isn’t random at all. Specific factors determine every single position. Understanding these helps you manage rankings effectively.
Snap Frequency Matters Most
Sending snaps carries the heaviest algorithmic weight. One snap counts more than ten chat messages. Snapchat prioritizes visual content above everything else.
Daily snappers climb rankings incredibly fast. Even simple snaps of your ceiling work. Consistency beats quality here. Regular snaps outperform occasional meaningful ones.
Snapstreaks Boost Your Position
Snapstreaks significantly impact your planet ranking. A long streak signals genuine commitment. It shows you both care about maintaining contact.
Breaking a streak hurts your position badly. Your planet might drop one or two spots immediately. Rebuilding takes serious time and consistent effort.
Chat Activity Counts Too
Direct messages contribute meaningfully to rankings. Long conversations help your position. Quick replies show active engagement. Even emoji reactions add algorithmic value.
However, chats alone won’t make you Mercury. You need balanced interaction across all features. Mix snaps with chats for optimal results.
Story Engagement Adds Points
Viewing someone’s stories matters to the algorithm. Replying to stories matters significantly more. Each interaction registers and accumulates points.
Regular story viewers maintain their positions easily. Ignoring stories causes gradual ranking decline. Your planet slowly drifts outward over time.
How to Check Your Snapchat Planets Position
Checking your planet requires Snapchat Plus subscription. Both you and your friend need active subscriptions. Both must enable Friend Solar System feature.
Step-by-Step Process
- Open Snapchat on your device
- Navigate to your friends list
- Tap the friend whose system you want to check
- Look for Best Friends or Friends badge
- Tap the badge to reveal your planet position
The screen displays your exact planet position. It shows which number you are clearly. You’ll see the visual representation immediately.
Understanding the Badge Types
Two distinct badge types exist in the system. “Best Friends” means you’re in their top eight. “Friends” means they’re in yours but not vice versa.
This distinction matters significantly for understanding relationships. Mutual best friends see both solar systems. One-way rankings only show single perspective.
How to Improve Your Snap Planets Ranking
Want to climb higher in someone’s system? Want to become their Mercury? These strategies actually deliver results.
Send Consistent Daily Snaps
Consistency beats intensity every single time. Daily snaps maintain your position effectively. Even simple snaps count toward rankings.
Send random moments throughout your day. Share quick updates about anything. Keep the streak alive no matter what.
Quality matters less than quantity here. Five average snaps beat one perfect snap. The algorithm heavily values frequency.
Build and Protect Snapstreaks
Start streaks with friends you genuinely care about. Protect them fiercely without exception. Set phone reminders if needed.
Losing streaks damages your ranking significantly. A 100-day streak outweighs a 10-day streak. Time invested shows algorithmic commitment.
Engage With Stories Regularly
View your friend’s stories daily without skipping. Reply with reactions and comments. Send meaningful responses when content warrants it.
Don’t just view silently and move on. Interaction matters more than passive consumption. React to at least half the stories you watch.
Use Voice and Video Calls
Voice calls add substantial ranking points. Video calls count even more heavily. These features show deeper engagement levels.
Schedule regular calls with close friends. Even five-minute chats boost your ranking. Face-time equivalents work best for climbing positions.
Maintain Balanced Interaction
Don’t spam someone desperately for rankings. That feels inauthentic and forced. Instead, build natural communication patterns organically.
Respond when they reach out to you. Initiate conversations sometimes too. Balance creates sustainable friendships. Your planet position will reflect this naturally.
Snapchat Plus and Friend Solar System
The snapchat planets feature requires Snapchat Plus. This premium subscription unlocks multiple exclusive features. Friend Solar System is just one major perk.
Snapchat Plus Pricing
Snapchat charges monthly, six-month, or yearly subscriptions. Monthly costs $3.99 in United States. Six months run $21.99. Annual subscriptions cost $39.99.
A seven-day free trial lets you test features. Cancel before it ends to avoid charges. This gives risk-free access temporarily.
Other Snapchat Plus Benefits
Story Rewatch Indicator shows who rewatched your stories. Ghost Trails reveal where friends were when snapping. Custom App Icons personalize your interface experience.
You can restore one expired Snapstreak monthly. Priority Support gets faster customer service responses. Early access to experimental features comes included too.
These extras justify the cost for active users. Casual Snapchatters might skip it though.
How to Enable the Feature
The Friend Solar System starts completely disabled. You must activate it manually through settings.
Steps to enable:
- Tap your Bitmoji in top-left corner
- Select the Snapchat+ banner option
- Find Friend Solar System in features list
- Toggle the switch to enable it
Both users need this enabled to see each other’s planets. Privacy controls remain entirely in your hands.
Common Concerns About Snapchat Planets
The snap planets feature sparked legitimate concerns. Understanding these helps you use it responsibly.
Social Pressure and Anxiety
Some users feel judged by their rankings. Seeing yourself as Neptune hurts emotionally. You might feel less valued by friends.
This especially affects teenagers and younger users. Remember: Planet positions measure digital activity only. They don’t reflect real friendship quality whatsoever.
Privacy Considerations
Friends can see your entire solar system. This reveals your top eight contacts publicly. Some users prefer keeping this information private.
You control this feature completely. Disable it anytime through settings. Your privacy matters more than gamified rankings.
Competitive Dynamics
The feature creates unhealthy competition sometimes. Friends might snap obsessively to climb rankings. This feels forced and inauthentic.
Use the feature for entertainment, not validation. Don’t let it dictate your real relationships. True friendships transcend digital metrics completely.
Mental Health Impact
Mental health experts raised valid concerns. The feature could increase social anxiety levels. It might trigger jealousy or insecurity feelings.
Snapchat responded by making it optional. The feature now defaults to disabled. Users consciously choose to enable it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Snapchat planets transform how you visualize friendships. The Friend Solar System makes your closest connections visible and interactive. You become the Sun with eight planets orbiting around you.
Understanding snap planets order is essential. Mercury means strongest bond with daily contact. Neptune represents distant but familiar connection. Rankings shift based on snaps, chats, streaks, and engagement.
The feature requires Snapchat Plus subscription. Enable it manually in settings. Both users need subscriptions to see each other’s solar systems.
Use this feature mindfully and responsibly. Don’t let rankings control your actual relationships. Focus on authentic connections that matter. The best friendships transcend digital metrics.
Start checking your snapchat planets position today. See where you rank in friends’ systems. Use these insights to strengthen bonds that truly matter most.
