How Do Snapchat Planets Work and What Does Each Planet Mean in the Friend Solar System?

The Snapchat planets feature—officially called the Friend Solar System—has become one of the platform’s most intriguing additions, transforming how users visualize their closest friendships.

This comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know about Snapchat planets: how they work, what each planet signifies, how to enable the feature, and practical tips for making the most of this cosmic friendship tracker.

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What Are Snapchat Planets?

Snapchat planets are part of Snapchat’s Friend Solar System feature, a premium offering available exclusively to Snapchat+ subscribers. When enabled, this feature turns your Best Friends list into a visual solar system, with you at the center as the Sun and your closest friends represented as planets orbiting around you.

The concept is beautifully simple: the closer a friend’s planet sits to your Sun, the more frequently you interact with that person on Snapchat through snaps, chats, and streaks. Each of the eight planets in our solar system—from Mercury to Neptune—represents a specific position in your top eight Best Friends list.

Think of it as a gamified, visual representation of your social interactions. Instead of a dry list of names, Snapchat planets turn your friendship dynamics into an engaging cosmic metaphor that’s both fun and informative.

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Is Snapchat Planets Free?

This is one of the most common questions users ask, and the answer is straightforward: no. The Friend Solar System feature is exclusive to Snapchat+ subscribers.

Snapchat+ is Snapchat’s premium subscription service that unlocks experimental features and exclusive perks. As of 2025, Snapchat+ had grown to approximately 9 million paid subscribers. The subscription is reasonably priced—typically around $0.49 per month in the US, though pricing may vary by region.

Key points about Snapchat+ and planets:

• Free users cannot see or access Snapchat planets at all

• Even with Snapchat+, the feature is turned off by default for first-time subscribers

• You must manually enable the Friend Solar System from the Snapchat+ feature management page

• The feature can be toggled on or off at any time

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How Do Snapchat Planets Work?

Understanding how Snapchat planets work requires looking at the underlying mechanics. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Interaction Tracking

Once you enable the Friend Solar System, Snapchat quietly tracks your interactions with friends in the background. The algorithm considers:

• Snaps sent and received (both photos and videos)

• Chat messages exchanged

• Snapstreaks maintained

• Overall frequency and recency of communication

2. Ranking Calculation

Based on these interactions, Snapchat ranks your top eight friends. The person you interact with the most becomes your Mercury (closest planet), the second-most becomes your Venus, and so on down to Neptune for the eighth position.

3. Visual Representation

Each friend’s Bitmoji appears seated on their assigned planet within your solar system. The visual design includes:

• Planet-specific colors and features

• Emojis and symbols indicating friendship intensity

• Bitmoji expressions that become less animated the farther out you go

4. Daily Updates

The solar system updates daily based on your most recent interactions. This means rankings can shift as your communication patterns change. A friend who was your Mercury one week might become Venus the next if your interaction frequency drops.

5. Privacy Considerations

Here’s something crucial to understand: your Snapchat solar system is entirely private. Only you can see where your friends rank in your system. Similarly, you can only see your position in someone else’s system when they have Snapchat+ and the feature enabled.

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Snapchat Planets Order and Meanings

The Snapchat planets order follows the real solar system exactly—minus Pluto, which was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006. Here’s the complete list from closest to farthest:

What Each Planet Says About Your Friendship

Mercury: If you’re someone’s Mercury, congratulations—you’re their number one Snapchat friend. This is the person you share the most snaps, chats, and streaks with. The planet appears with a light red color and multiple red hearts surrounding the Bitmoji.

Venus: Being Venus means you’re their second-closest friend. Venus is depicted in tan or golden tones with pink, yellow, and blue hearts floating around it.

Earth: The third position in the Snapchat planets system. Earth is easily recognizable by its blue and green appearance, complete with a small moon orbiting it.

Mars: Fourth place. Mars appears as a striking red planet with purple and blue hearts nearby. The Bitmoji on Mars typically shows moderate enthusiasm.

Jupiter: Fifth position. Jupiter has an orange tint with darker stripes (the Great Red Spot) and stars around it. The friendship vibe here is positive but more casual.

Saturn: Sixth place. Saturn is unmistakable with its famous golden rings. This represents a reliable but not daily connection.

Uranus: Seventh position. Uranus appears as a green planet with swirls and yellow stars. Communication is unique but infrequent.

Neptune: Eighth and final position. Neptune is depicted in dark blue with minimal stars. Being Neptune means you’re still in their top eight, but interactions are limited.

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Best Friends vs. Friends: What’s the Difference?

When you check your position in someone’s solar system, you’ll notice two types of badges: Best Friends and Friends.

Best Friends Badge

A gold-ringed “Best Friends” badge means both of you are in each other’s top eight closest friends. The relationship is mutual—you’re in their solar system, and they’re in yours.

Friends Badge

A “Friends” badge indicates you’re in their top eight, but the feeling isn’t necessarily mutual. You might be one of their closest friends, but they don’t rank among your top eight.

Important: The planet you see when tapping these badges reflects your position in their solar system, not the other way around. You could be their Mercury while they’re your Neptune—and that’s perfectly normal.

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How to Enable and View Snapchat Planets

Step 1: Subscribe to Snapchat+

Before you can access Snapchat planets, you need an active Snapchat+ subscription. To subscribe:

1. Open Snapchat and tap your profile icon in the top-left corner

2. Scroll down and tap on “Snapchat+”

3. Follow the prompts to subscribe

Step 2: Enable the Friend Solar System

The feature is off by default, so you need to turn it on:

1. Tap your profile icon

2. Tap on “Snapchat+”

3. Find the “Solar System” or “Friend Solar System” toggle

4. Switch it on

Step 3: View Your Planet in a Friend’s System

To check where you rank in someone else’s solar system:

1. Open Snapchat and go to the camera screen

2. Navigate to a friend’s profile by tapping their Bitmoji in chats or from the friends list

3. Look for the badge—either “Best Friends” or “Friends” with a gold ring around it

4. Tap the badge to reveal their solar system

5. See your planet—your Bitmoji will appear on a planet orbiting their Sun

Step 4: Troubleshooting

If Snapchat planets aren’t showing up:

• Verify your subscription—ensure Snapchat+ is active

• Check feature settings—confirm the Solar System is toggled on

• Update the app—install the latest version of Snapchat

• Restart the app—sometimes a simple restart fixes sync issues

• Wait for daily update—rankings refresh daily, so give it time

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Expert Tips for Snapchat Planets

1. Understand That Rankings Are Dynamic

Your position in someone’s solar system changes daily based on recent activity. A friend who’s been quiet for a few days might drop from Mercury to Venus or lower. Don’t read too much into temporary shifts—they’re simply a reflection of recent communication patterns.

2. You Can’t Manually Assign Planets

Snapchat planets are algorithmically assigned based on interaction data. You can’t manually choose who becomes your Mercury. However, if you want someone to rank higher, the only way is to increase your interaction frequency—send more snaps, chat more often, and maintain streaks.

3. Privacy Is Built In

Your solar system is completely private. Friends can’t see where they rank in your system, and you can’t see rankings for friends who don’t have Snapchat+. This privacy feature was intentionally designed to reduce social pressure and anxiety among users.

4. Screenshots of the Solar System

If you take a screenshot of someone’s solar system display, it’s important to note that profile pages and badges do not trigger screenshot notifications. Snapchat only notifies users when you screenshot Snaps, Stories, or chat messages. However, always exercise discretion when capturing any content from someone’s profile.

5. Don’t Overthink the Rankings

While Snapchat planets are a fun way to visualize friendships, they don’t measure the true depth of your real-life relationships. A friend who’s your Neptune might still be someone you deeply care about—they just might not use Snapchat as frequently. Use the feature as entertainment, not as a definitive measure of friendship value.

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Common Questions About Snapchat Planets

Why Can’t I See Planets Even With Snapchat+?

Several factors could be at play:

• The feature might be turned off in your Snapchat+ settings

• Your app might need updating

• There could be a temporary sync delay

• The friend whose system you’re trying to view might not have Snapchat+ or the feature enabled

Do Both People Need Snapchat+?

No. Only the person whose solar system you’re viewing needs Snapchat+. If your friend has Snapchat+ and the feature enabled, you can see your planet in their system even if you don’t have the subscription.

Can I See All My Friends’ Planets?

You can only see your position in the systems of friends who have Snapchat+ and the feature enabled. Not every friend will have a visible solar system.

Do Snapchat Planets Show Mutual Rankings?

No. Your position in someone else’s system does not determine their position in yours. You could be their Mercury while they appear as your Jupiter. The rankings are independent and based on each person’s unique interaction patterns.

Does the Order Ever Change?

Yes—frequently. The Snapchat planets order updates daily based on your most recent interactions. A friend who’s been highly active recently might move closer to your Sun, while someone who’s been less active might drift outward.

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Snapchat Planets vs. Other Snapchat Features

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The Psychology Behind Snapchat Planets

Snapchat introduced the Friend Solar System as a gamified way to visualize social connections. However, the feature has sparked both fascination and concern.

The Appeal

Snapchat planets tap into our natural curiosity about where we stand with others. Seeing yourself as someone’s Mercury provides a dopamine hit of validation, while being Neptune might motivate you to reach out more often.

The Criticism

When the feature first launched, it was turned on by default, leading to anxiety among users who discovered they ranked lower than expected in friends’ systems. In response, Snapchat changed the default setting to off for new subscribers, making it an opt-in feature.

Healthy Perspective

Remember that Snapchat planets only measure digital interaction frequency. They don’t account for:

• Real-life friendships and connections

• Quality of conversations

• Emotional depth of relationships

• Communication through other platforms

Use the feature for fun, but don’t let it define your friendships.

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Conclusion

Snapchat planets offer a creative, visually engaging way to understand your digital social dynamics. By turning your Best Friends list into a personalized solar system, Snapchat has transformed mundane rankings into something genuinely fun and interactive.

Here are the key takeaways:

• Snapchat planets are exclusive to Snapchat+ subscribers and must be manually enabled

• The order follows the real solar system: Mercury (closest) to Neptune (farthest)

• Rankings update daily based on snap, chat, and streak activity

• The feature is private—only you can see your solar system

• Your position in someone else’s system doesn’t determine their position in yours

• Use the feature for entertainment, not as a definitive measure of friendship

Actionable Takeaways

1. Subscribe to Snapchat+ if you want to access the Friend Solar System

2. Enable the feature manually from your Snapchat+ settings

3. Check your position by tapping the gold-ringed badge on friends’ profiles

4. Don’t obsess over rankings—they’re just a reflection of digital activity

5. Enjoy the cosmic perspective on your friendships without overthinking it

Whether you’re proudly sitting as someone’s Mercury or humbly orbiting as their Neptune, the Snapchat planets feature adds a playful dimension to how we interact on the platform. It’s a reminder that in the vast social universe of Snapchat, every connection—close or distant—has its place in the orbit.