You opened a friend’s Snapchat profile and spotted a badge with a gold ring. You tapped it and suddenly you’re staring at a planet surrounded by hearts.
Maybe it was Mercury, sitting close to the sun. Maybe it was Saturn, further out than you’d like.
Either way, the question is the same: what does this actually mean, and why does your position keep changing?
What are Snapchat Planets?
Snapchat Planets are part of the Friend Solar System, a feature exclusive to Snapchat+ subscribers. It assigns each of your top 8 best friends a planet, from Mercury (#1) to Neptune (#8), based on how frequently you interact. The feature is private, off by default, and updates automatically as your activity changes.
Friend Solar System: Quick Facts
| What You Need to Know | The Answer |
| Who can use it? | Snapchat+ subscribers only ($3.99/month) |
| Is it on by default? | No, must be manually enabled |
| Can friends see your ranking? | No, each solar system is private |
| Does it update automatically | Yes, shifts based on recent activity |
| Does Snap Score affect it? | No, entirely separate metrics |
All 8 Snapchat Planets in Order
| # | Planet | What It Signals | Visual Style |
| 1 | Mercury | Highest interaction, your closest friend | Red planet, red hearts |
| 2 | Venus | Second closest, consistent daily contact | Light pink, yellow and pink hearts |
| 3 | Earth | Strong bond, slightly behind #2 | Blue/green, red hearts, moon |
| 4 | Mars | Inner circle, solid but not daily | Red planet, purple and blue hearts |
| 5 | Jupiter | Mid-range, interaction has leveled off | Orange-brown, dark hearts |
| 6 | Saturn | Regular contact but not a tight bond | Yellow-gold with rings |
| 7 | Uranus | Occasional interaction, outer edge of Top 8 | Green, no hearts |
| 8 | Neptune | Rare contact, barely in the Top 8 | Blue, no hearts |
Key signal: Hearts around each planet reflect relationship activity. Mercury is loaded with them. Neptune has none.
What Actually Moves Your Planet
| Ranking Factor | Impact | What to Know | How to Improve |
| Direct snap frequency | Highest | One-on-one snaps carry the most weight | Snap them directly every day |
| Two-way engagement | High | One-sided snapping counts less | Make sure they snap back |
| Streak length | Medium | Quality beats quantity | Keep streaks with real snaps, not just streak-saves |
| Chat frequency | Medium | Regular chats count | Send actual messages, not just emoji replies |
| Story replies | Lower | Adds to score but not a major factor | Reply when you genuinely have something to say |
| Group snaps | Lowest | Count less than direct snaps | Prioritize one-on-one over group sends |
| Snap Score | None | Completely unrelated to planet ranking | Ignore it, it won’t move your planet |
I went through several active community threads on this topic. The Snap Score confusion comes up in almost every discussion and trips people up more than any other part of the feature.
Most common misconception: Snap Score and planet ranking are completely separate. Snapchat+ even has a dedicated Snapscore multiplier feature (doubles your points when snapping other subscribers), confirming Snap Score and Friend Solar System operate as two entirely independent systems. A six-figure Snap Score still puts you at Neptune if you rarely snap that friend directly.
Badge Types: Why You Can’t See a Planet Sometimes
| Badge | Appearance | What It Means | Planet Visible? |
| Best Friends badge | Gold ring around icon | You’re both in each other’s Top 8 | Yes |
| Friends badge | No gold ring | You’re in their Top 8, they’re not in yours | Yes (one-sided) |
| No badge | Nothing visible | Neither of you made the other’s Top 8 | No |
If no badge appears: Does the other person have Snapchat+? Is Friend Solar System toggled on? Are you in their Top 8? All three must be true.
The Asymmetry Problem: Why Your Rankings Don’t Match
Your solar system and your friend’s solar system run completely independently. They never mirror each other.
| Your Rank in Their System | Their Rank in Yours | What It Actually Means | What to Do |
| Mercury (#1) | Neptune (#8) | You snap them far more than they snap you | Decide if the imbalance bothers you |
| Neptune (#8) | Mercury (#1) | They’re far more invested in snapping you | You’re their closest contact, they just aren’t yours |
| Earth (#3) | Earth (#3) | Interaction is balanced on both sides | Maintain consistency. This rank is the easiest to lose if one person pulls back |
Real-world impact: In 2025, a 15-year-old discovered that a male friend ranked higher in her solar system than her boyfriend, purely because of snap frequency. This was a key reason Snapchat made the feature private and disabled by default. The data was accurate. The context was missing.
The core truth: Planet rankings reflect app behavior only. Someone who calls you daily but never snaps will always rank lower than someone who sends a quick snap every morning.
Pros and Cons of Friend Solar System
| Pros | Cons |
| Fun visual way to see your closest connections | Can trigger friendship anxiety, especially for teens |
| Motivates genuine two-way engagement | Asymmetrical rankings can surface uncomfortable imbalances |
| Completely private, only you see your solar system | No notification when rank changes, creates a checking loop |
| Easy to disable without affecting streaks | Locked behind the Snapchat+ paywall |
| Rewards real back-and-forth over passive scrolling | Reflects app behavior only, not real-world closeness |
Snapchat+ Pricing
| Plan | Cost | Best For |
| Monthly | $3.99/month | Testing before committing |
| Annual | $39.99/year (~$3.33/month) | Saves ~17% vs monthly |
| Family Plan | $7.99/month (up to 5 accounts) | Families under one subscription |
| Platinum | Higher tier, varies by region | No ads + GenAI Lenses + 5TB storage |
| Free Trial | 7 days (select regions) | Try Friend Solar System risk-free |
Verified from live app (June 2026): Snapchat+ currently includes 30+ features beyond Friend Solar System, including Extended Best Friends list, #1 Best Friend pinning, Instant Streaks, Story rewatch, AI Creative Tools, and Generative Chat wallpapers. Friend Solar System (Solar System) is listed as a standard included feature, not a premium add-on within the subscription.
Critical detail: Even if your friend has Snapchat+, you also need an active subscription to see planet badges on their profile. One subscriber between two people means badges appear for neither.
How to Check Your Planet
On a friend’s profile (you are the planet):
- Open a friend’s profile
- Look for the Best Friends badge (gold ring) or Friends badge
- Tap the badge
- A pop-up reveals your planet position in their system
On your own profile (your friends are the planets):
- Go to your own profile
- Tap the Snapchat+ banner
- Your top 8 friends appear as planets orbiting your sun
Perspective always flips: Friend’s profile = you’re the planet. Your own profile = they’re the planets.
How to Enable or Disable Friend Solar System
- Go to your Profile
- Tap the Snapchat+ banner
- Scroll to Friend Solar System
- Toggle on or off
Disabling hides your solar system from all friends but leaves your streaks, friend list, and their own solar systems completely untouched.
Conclusion
Snapchat Planets tell you one thing precisely: who you interact with most on the app right now. They don’t measure who you care about most or who matters most in your life. Mercury means daily two-way snapping. Neptune means occasional contact. The friendship itself lives outside the algorithm.
If rankings are causing stress, disable the feature. If you want to move up, snap consistently and directly.
For more on how social platforms are designed to keep you engaged, explore our coverage of AI-powered social media tools on TheDiscoverAI.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need Snapchat Plus to see Snapchat Planets?
Yes. Friend Solar System is exclusive to Snapchat+. Both accounts must have active subscriptions. Free users cannot see planet badges even on a subscribing friend’s profile.
Why can’t I see a planet on my friend’s profile?
Three conditions must all be met: both users have Snapchat+, the feature is toggled on, and you’re in each other’s Top 8. One missing condition means no badge appears.
Does my Snap Score affect my planet ranking?
No. Snap Score = total lifetime app activity. Planet ranking = recent direct interaction with one specific person. Completely separate metrics.
Can my friend see what planet I am in their solar system?
Not automatically. Rankings are fully private. They would only know if you told them or showed them your screen directly.
Why did my planet ranking drop even though I’m still snapping?
Rankings are relative, not absolute. If another friend increased their snapping with you recently, your existing contacts shift down even if your own activity stayed exactly the same.
How do I become someone’s Mercury?
Snap them directly every day, keep your streak active, reply to their stories, and send real one-on-one chats. Consistent daily engagement over several weeks is the only reliable path.
Does Snapchat+ offer anything else besides Friend Solar System?
Yes. Based on the live Snapchat+ feature screen, the subscription includes 30+ features, among them Extended Best Friends list, #1 Best Friend pinning, Instant Streaks, Story rewatch, Peek a peek, AI Creative Tools, and Generative Chat wallpapers. Friend Solar System is one feature among many, which makes the subscription more justifiable if you use the app regularly.