What Are Snapchat Planets? Meaning, Order, Ranking & How They Work

Snapchat Planets are among the hottest in-app features within Snapchat Plus. If you’ve seen planets on your Bitmoji around a profile, you may have wondered what they really mean. At first, they look decorative. But in fact, they are part of a visual friend ranking system.

Snapchat Planets display your top eight friends determined by size, which changes by the amount of time you interact with them. Instead of calculating a simple number or best friends list, Snapchat turns your friendships into a solar system. You are displayed like the Sun, and your closest friends revolve around you as planets in what is officially known as the Friend Solar System.

Snapchat Planets

What are Snapchat Planets?

Snapchat Planets are feature in the Friend Solar System for Snapchat+ users. This shows your closest friends as planets rotating around you (the Sun) according to the frequency of interaction. This space-themed feature is a fun way to show your users their friendship rankings.


What Is Snapchat Plus And How Do Snapchat Planets Work?

Snapchat Plus is a premium, subscription-based version of Snapchat. It gives you exclusive features that you wouldn’t find in the free version of the app. These range from more ways to customize your experience, to early access to features, and a deeper insight into what your friends do with you.

Snapchat Planets — one of Snapchat Plus best features The planet ranking system isn’t accessible at all if you don’t have an active Snapchat+ subscription.

Even after I subscribed, the Friend Solar System function was disabled by default. You need to manually activate it within your Snapchat settings. After activation, Snapchat calculates your friend ranking using interaction patterns and engagement metrics.

There’s a reason for this ranking system — it’s not arbitrary. It’s a reflection of your activity data — this includes snaps, chats, streaks, story replies as well as voice and video-calls.

What Is the Friend Solar System in Snapchat?

The official name of the Snapchat planet ranking system is Friend Solar System. It uses the structure of the real solar system to visually represent your eight closest friends.

Here’s how it works:

  • You are the Sun.
  • Your eight most engaged-with pals transform into planets.
  • If a planet is closer to you, the stronger your interaction frequent.

The order follows the real celestial sequence:

  1. Mercury
  2. Venus
  3. Earth
  4. Mars
  5. Jupiter
  6. Saturn
  7. Uranus
  8. Neptune

The ranking is easier to understand as Snapchat deliberately uses the actual order of planets from the solar system. Most everyone knows that Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, and Neptune is the farthest. Instead of identifying the person as “Rank #3,” Snapchat just displays Earth.

It feels less competitive. More visual. Its ranking logic has a data-driven basis too.

Snapchat Planets: Ranking Algorithm or How Snap planets Work

Snapchat does not inform users of the algorithm it uses exactly to rank your friends in Discover. But the system behind the Snapchat planet ranking seems to depend on engagement consistency, recency and frequency of interactions, as far as I can tell from observable behaviour.

The ranking likely considers:

  • Number of snaps exchanged
  • Chat messages
  • Story replies
  • Voice calls
  • Video calls
  • Snapchat streak activity
  • Recency of communication
  • Overall interaction patterns

If someone writes for three hours, then takes a long break from activity, it is a straight line on one side. If you send 40 snaps in the same day but then stop talking to that person for weeks, that spike may not cement someone on Mercury.

It seems that the Snapchat algorithm loves consistent engagement over time. As communication habits evolve, planetary rankings can also slowly change — which is why we are now so careful.

In this way, Snapchat Planets are fluid and not static.

Snapchat Planets Explained (Besties Ranking Breakdown)

Let’s discuss every planet clearly to avoid confusion regarding the Snapchat planets order.

Mercury Planet

Mercury is your #1 best friend in Snapchat. This is the person with whom you interact most via snaps, chats, streaks and general engagement. Just as the actual Mercury is closest to the Sun, this friend is nearest to you on the app. The series typically depicts the atricial as a small red ball whose hearts are buzzing, which means that this is a pretty active and strong friendship with someone.


Mercury Planet
Venus Planet

Venus Planet

Venus is your #2 best friend. You talk to this person a lot, but slightly less than your No. 1 friend. Venus itself is sometimes depicted as a light brown or beige planet surrounded by colorful hearts. This indicates a close and regular friendship with frequent chatting and snaps.


Earth Planet

Earth is your #3 best friend. You have heavy interaction with this person still, but not as strong as when dealing with Mercury or Venus. These planets are typically a green landmass with blue oceans and possibly a tiny moon mixed in, which gives the planet its unique look. This friend is a core part of your Snapchat and regular conversations.


Earth Planet
Mars Planet

Mars Planet

Mars: your #4 BFF You are still interacting decimals but starting to decrease relative to the top three. Most imagery shows the planet in a reddish-orange hue. This is a friend you frequently snap and chat with, but they’re not one of your overall top closest contacts.


Jupiter Planet

Jupiter is your #5 best friend. Communication is consistent but less frequent than those ranked higher. The design is based on the real Jupiter, often with orange hues and delicate lines. This friend still matters, but you and this friend do not engage with as much energy as your inner circle.


Jupiter Planet
Saturn Planet

Saturn Planet

Saturn: #6 Best Friend You do interact with this person, but not at all times of the day. The planet has rings, just like the real one, which make it look very recognizable. This rank indicates a light relationship, in other words, your conversations are less but friendly.


Uranus Planet

Uranus is all about your #7 BFF. There is interaction but it’s sporadic. However, the planet usually appears as light blue. That is someone you might snap every now and then or streaks with, but don’t talk to every day.


Uranus Planet
Neptune Planet

Neptune Planet

Your #8 best friend Neptune is the furthest planet in your Friend Solar System. That means you still communicate enough that they are in your top 8, but they are the least engaged out of the group. Neptune, another well-known planet, is usually depicted as a dark blue one — more a type of far away but still important Snapchat friend.


What Snapchat Planet Meanings Actually Say About Your Friendship

However, many users are now heading online and searching for “snapchat planets meaning” as they want to know what each of their positions say about their relationship.

The key point to keep in mind here is this: Snapchat Planets are about activity, not emotional proximity.

If someone is your Mercury, that means you talk with them the most on the app. It does not automatically mean:

  • They are automatic home your best IRL buddy
  • They value you more
  • You value them more

The Snapchat friend ranking system is about digital behavior. And digital behavior can change on a dime, depending on timing, availability or communication habits.

Sometimes you engage more just because you’re both there at the same time.

Why Is My Snapchat Planet Different?

Well, this is one of the most searched query regarding Snapchat Planets.

If your ranking changed relative to your planet ranking, it is usually because your interaction patterns have changed. Snapchat runs the algorithm for continuously recalibrating engagement figures in light of recency and constancy.

Planet changes can happen because:

  • You snapped someone less often
  • You began talking more to someone else
  • A streak ended
  • Communication frequency shifted
  • Activity data recalculated

It usually doesn’t mean anything dramatic happened. As a rule, it trends gradual changes in usage.

What is the difference between the Best Friends and Friends Badge?

Badges make clear whether the Snapchat ranking is reciprocal.

Best Friends Badge Explained

This badge appears when:

  • You are among their top eight friends
  • They are in your top eight

This indicates mutual high interaction. So tap the badge on their Snapchat profile to unlock your planet in their Friend Solar System.

Friends Badge Explained

This badge appears when:

  • You are in their top eight
  • They are not in yours

It’s really just a skewed ranking exercise. It’s just a measure of varying measures of engagement on behalf of users.

Enable or Disable Snapchat Planets

Its Snapchat, what you can do with this feature?

How to Enable Snapchat Planets

  1. Open Snapchat.
  2. Tap your Bitmoji.
  3. Tap Snapchat+.
  4. Scroll down to find Friend Solar System option
  5. Toggle it on.

The Snapchat planet ranking feature is then shown on profiles that qualify once it has been enabled.

How to Disable Snapchat Planets

Repeat and turn it off.

When disabled, planets will be wiped from profiles regardless of whether your Snapchat Plus subscription is still active.

Do You Need Snapchat Plus to See the Snapchat Planets?

No. Snapchat Planets are only available to Snapchat Plus subscribers। The Friend Solar System feature is hidden if you don’t have an active subscription.

Snapchat does sometimes give a free trial of Snapchat+. In the trial, you have access to the entire planet ranking system. Access is revoked after the trial unless you subscribe.

Borrowing someone else’s account does not permanently turn on the feature for you.

Are Snapchat Planets Private?

Yes, Snapchat Planets are inherently private.

You can’t view someone else’s complete Snapchat friend ranking list. Tapping the Best Friends or Friends badge on a profile allows you to see only your own planet position.

Your whole planet system is not open to others. This layer of privacy tends to minimize direct side-by-side comparison with friends.

Are Snapchat Planets Accurate?

Snapchat Planets are true when it comes to measuring how often you engage and how consistent your engagement is.

They are not intended to indicate emotional closeness or real-world significance.

The ranking algorithm assesses digital behavior patterns, not feelings. It is easy to confuse activity on the internet with emotional value. They are not always the same.

Snapchat Planets Vs Snapchat Best Friends List

Some users mix up Snapchat Planets with the classic Snapchat Best Friends list.

Names are listed in text format on the Best Friends list based on your interaction. Snapchat Planets, however, uses visuals to rank your eight closest friends in the Friend Solar System.

Both features are ultimately measuring engagement levels, but Snapchat Planets gets a visual ranking presented in much more of an interactive way.

Snapchat Planets and Its Social & Emotional Effects

Fears of social comparison can flare-up after logging into Snapchat Planets.

For younger users, seeing your position fluctuate from Mercury to Earth could be anxiety inducing. Even if nothing shifted emotionally, the visual ranking can be powerful.

For this reason, Snapchat probably made the feature optional. It reflects your digital behavior, not your value as a friend.

In moderation, it can be intriguing and even entertaining. If taken too seriously, it can become a scoreboard.

How to get more planets on Snapchat

If you wish to advance towards Mercury, concentrate on steady involvement.

  • Send snaps regularly.
  • Stay active in chats.
  • Reply to stories.
  • Maintain streaks.
  • Use voice or video calls, once in a while.

The ranking system on Snapchat favors consistent patterns of engagement over erratic spiking. Consistency matters more than intensity.

FAQs About Snapchat Planets

Green dot meaning on Snapchat vs. planets

A green dot means that a user is currently active. Snapchat Planets reflect interaction ranking. They are separate Snapchat features.

How many are there on Snapchat planets?

Eight planets, which stand in for your top eight friends.

Does Snapchat Planets update daily?

The ranking of the planets in Snapchats updates automatically depending on how often and when people interact with them.

Or someone check if they are your Mercury?

Only if they look up how high they rank on their mutual Best Friends badge.

Are Snapchat streaks related to Snapchat Planets?

Yes, they probably use streak consistency as a factor in the engagement metrics for their ranking algorithm.

Conclusion

Snapchat Planets use a Snapchat Plus subscription to make your top eight friendships feel like a solar system. The Snapchat planet ranking system is based on interaction frequency, engagement consistency, and activity data rather than numbers.

The planets are active and private and up to you. They rely on digital behavior within the app, not emotional intimacy.

Snapchat Planets can be a quirky way to get some insight into your Snapchat friend ranking, if used casually. But at the end of the day, they are just a reflection of how often you text someone on Snapchat. No more — and no less.