What is Snapchat Planets? Solar System Order Explained

Wondering how Snapchat planets work? Find out all about the order of the Snapchat planets, their significance, and the Friendship Solar System in our brand-new 2026 guide.

Have you ever wondered why you are Mercury around one friend and Mars with another? The Friendship Solar System is one of the most well-known Snapchat+ features on the app, yet one of the most confusing Snapchat features.

In this updated guide, I will help you understand the Snapchat planets order and the meanings of the Friendship Solar System according to your friendship rank.

Snapchat Planets Explained: Complete Planet Order and Meanings (2026)

What Are Snapchat Planets?

Snapchat+ is a paid subscription service that offers various features, including the “Friend Solar System”. Friend Solar System uses “Snapchat Planets” to visualize friendship closeness. The planets represent your top 8 best friends (Mercury to Neptune) based on interaction frequency.

In Snapchat’s Friend Solar System, each planet represents your position in a friend’s list based on how frequently you interact with them. The closer the planet is to the Sun, the stronger the friendship. Snapchat uses this system to visually show how close you are to someone compared to their other friends.

In the following section, I have explained Snapchat planets order, along with what each one means:

What is Snapchat Planets Friend Solar System?

Snapchat friend solar system is a feature that can be availed by purchasing a Snapchat+ subscription only. It is a feature wherein the friends are ranked based on how much they interact on the platform and it is based on the real solar system where there is a sun and different planets revolve around it.

Likewise, here the sun is the person or user using this feature, and the planets are his friends. The closer the friend, the closer the planet would be to his representation. For instance, the person you share the most with or talk to the most would represent Mercury, since Mercury is the closest planet to the sun.

This feature was introduced with the release of the Snapchat+ version in July 2022 in just 24 countries including the United States, Canada, The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, India, and so on.

Unfortunately, the friend’s solar system feature got many backlashes. Some reports show it is causing anxiety, feelings of inadequacy or exclusion, and other negative mental health effects in younger users. As when you get to know that you are not the close friend of someone who you think and want to cause anxiety and anger.

Due to this, the Snapchat developers disabled this feature by default and did not completely remove it as it has got overwhelmingly positive feedback from many users. So they made it manual, so whoever wants to enjoy it can enable it easily.

How Snapchat+ Uses Planets

The Snapchat+ uses some signals in order to calculate how often you exchange Snaps and chat with your friend. Depending on how much you talk to him/her, you will get one of eight planets. The more you chat, the closer to Mercury your planet will be.

Who Can See Snapchat Planets?

It is possible to use Friend Solar System feature only if you are a member of Snapchat+. It means that it is necessary to make sure if you can see your planet rating with your friend. Other users do not have such an opportunity.

Snapchat Planet Order

Planet	Friend Rank	Meaning
Mercury	#1	Your closest friend with the most interactions.
Venus	#2	Your second closest friend.
Earth	#3	Your third closest friend.
Mars	#4	A close friend you interact with regularly.
Jupiter	#5	An active friendship with moderate interaction.
Saturn	#6	A friend you communicate with occasionally.
Uranus	#7	A less frequent but still important friend.
Neptune	#8	Your eighth closest friend in the Friend Solar System.

Snapchat Features

#1) Snapchat Best Friends Planets or Snapchat Solar System: This is the trendiest feature in which your friends can be represented as planets and be the sun. The friend whom you interact most with would be represented as the closer planet. Planet order represents the closeness of the friend. This way, you would know how close you are to the other person.

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#2) Custom App Icon: With this feature, you can change the app icon by choosing from the list of eye-catching app icons and this is for the users of Snapchat+ only who are the paid users.

#3) Story Rewatch Count: You can see who has rewatched your story and how many times easily with the feature called story rewatch count.

#4) Custom Chat Wallpaper: You can apply customized wallpaper to your specific chats or on chats with your special friends, which adds a special touch to the conversation.

#5) Notification Sounds: This feature enables you to set a custom notification sound to the specific friend’s message. Whenever they message you, you will easily recognize the person who is messaging you. This way you can check the notifications of special friends on priority.

#6) Priority Reply: Snapchat+ users would get the opportunity for priority replies on friends’ stories.

#7) Story Boost: The users of Snapchat Plus get the story Boost for 24 hours to get more and more views which your friends don’t know.

#8) Other Features: There are many more amazing features that a premium user can enjoy, including exclusive Bitmoji backgrounds, Snapchat+ badge, accessorized look on a map, expansion of best friends list, and so on.

How Does Snapchat’s Friend Solar System Work

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Snapchat’s Friend Solar System is just like the original solar system, where there is a Sun and different planets that revolve around it. Here the Sun represents the person using the solar system feature and the planets represent the different friends of him.

The closer the planet, the closer would be the friend. The order of the snap planets depends on the interaction of the user and his friend.

For example, if the user shares more snaps with person A than with person B, then person A would be represented by Mercury planet which is closest to the sun, and then B would be represented by Venus.

There are 8 planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Mercury represents the first best friend, Venus represents the second best friend, Earth represents the third best friend, and so on.

To make the person Mercury you need to share the most number of images, videos, or snaps with that person in a straight two weeks, then it would automatically be assigned to Mercury bitmoji.

What Does Each Snapchat Planet Mean (2026)

Snapchat’s planets are ordered in the sequence of actual planets in the solar system. The person who has interacted the most would be represented by the mercury planet, which is the closest to the sun, and so on.

The representation of planets is based on the interaction and streaks. There are a total of 8 planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Further Reading => How to Restore Snapchat Streak

#1) Mercury: This is the closed planet near the sun and represents the closest friend with whom the user interacts the most. It is red with 5 red hearts and some stars around it. The sun and the planet have big smiles on their faces.

#2) Venus: It is the second planet that represents the second most interacted person of the user or the second most favorite person. The planet is yellow-white with some pink, yellow, and blue hearts around it.

#3) Earth: This is the third planet in the solar system which represents the thirst best friend of the user. Here the planet is blue-green with a moon, red hearts, and some yellow stars around it. The people representing the sun and the planet have smiles on their faces that look lively.

#4) Mars: It is the fourth planet and represents the fourth favorite person whom the user interacts with the most. The planet is bright red with some purple and blue hearts and different colored stars around it. The person representing Mars in the bitmoji has a little less smile on her face.

#5) Jupiter: It represents the fifth best friend in the Snapchat+. The planet is orange in color with some different colored stars around it. The person representing the sun is a bit farther and the person representing the planet does not have a smile on her face.

#6) Saturn: It is the sixth planet in the solar system and represents the sixth best friend on the list. The planet is orangish in color with a beautiful ring and stars around it. The persons representing the sun and the planet are a bit farther.

#7) Uranus: This is the seventh planet and represents the seventh most interacted person on the list. It is green which gives cool vibes and some stars around it. The persons representing the sun and the planet in the bitmoji do not have smiles on their faces.

#8) Neptune: This is the eighth planet and the last planet, which represents the eighth favorite person. It is violet in color with some bluish stars around it. The persons representing the sun and the planet do not have a smile on their faces and are far from each other comparatively.

Also Read => How To Get Snapchat On Windows 

How Does Snapchat Decide Planet Rankings?

The Friend Solar System planets’ ranking on Snapchat depends on a certain algorithm that measures the frequency and regularity of communication with your friend. Although Snapchat doesn’t disclose the specific criteria, the algorithm changes your planet’s position based on your activity.

• Best Friends Algorithm: The Friend Solar System is built on the basis of Snapchat’s Best Friends algorithm. The algorithm calculates your total engagement with a friend and places you into one of his or her eight friends according to the results.
• Chat Frequency: If you engage in conversations with your friend quite often, there is a high possibility that you will be ranked above the others and get closer to being a best friend for your buddy.
• Snap Frequency: Sending and receiving Snaps plays a significant role in ranking the planets in the Friend Solar System. Those friends who often exchange photos and videos are usually placed on a higher level than occasional communicators.
• Impact of the Snap Streaks: Having an ongoing Snap Streak can have a positive effect on the ranking of your friendship as it shows the regularity of interaction. Nevertheless, a long streak cannot guarantee your high place if interaction with your friend is rare.
• Reasons for Changing Rankings: Snapchat Planet rankings change dynamically depending on your and your friend’s activity. If you start to chat less or send fewer Snaps or your buddy starts talking to somebody else more actively, your planet gets closer to moving away from the Sun.

How to Get Snapchat Planets

How to Subscribe Snapchat+

To subscribe to Snapchat+ you can go through the simple steps given below:

Step #1: Firstly, you need to install the Snapchat Application on your device.

Step #2: Then you need to sign up and create your account.

Step #3: Now you need to open your profile by clicking on the profile icon given in the upper left corner.

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Step #4: Now you need to click on the settings icon given in the upper right corner.

Step #5: Here a list will be opened from where you need to click on the Snapchat+ option.

Step #6: Now you need to click on the subscribe option.

Step #7: Here you would be presented with the options to choose your plan. It would be for a month, 6 months, or a year.

Step #8: Pay for the plan and restart the app to enjoy the Snapchat+ features.

Step #9: You can also gift the Snapchat+ feature to your friends by selecting the option Snapchat+ Gift, then selecting the desired person from the list, and then completing the payment.

How to Enable Snapchat Solar System Feature

As this feature has received much criticism, you now need to manually activate it. For that, you need to follow the steps:

Step #1: Tap on your profile icon located on the top left corner of the mobile screen.

Step #2: Now select the Snapchat+ option right under your profile name.

Step #3: Here you will see all the features offered in the Snapchat+ version. Scroll and find the solar system feature.

Step #4: Now turn on the feature and press the okay option that pops up after turning on the feature.

Snapchat+ Pricing:

• Snapchat: Free
• Snapchat+ : Its pricing differs as per the region.
  • In the US it is:
    • $3.99 per month
    • $21.99 for six months
    • $39.99 per year
  • In the UK it is:
    • 3.99£ per month
    • 21.99£ for 6 months
    • 39.99£ for a year
• A free trial of 7 days is available to experience and decide whether you want to pay for it or not.

Further Reading => How to Deactivate Snapchat – Simple Steps

Benefits of Using Snapchat Planets

There are many benefits of using this amazing feature called Snapchat Planets, like:

• It represents your relationship with your friend visually.
• You can come to know whether you are the one whom your friend shares the most snaps with or not.
• You can build strong relationships by sharing maximum experiences with your friend in case you find you are not in their solar system.
• This enables you to know the place where you exist in the friend list of your friends.

Tips and Tricks

There are certain tips to make the most out of Snapchat’s friend’s solar system feature. Such as:

• You should keep updating your app as the new updates enhance the existing features.
• You can make anyone your best friend if you are consistent.
• You should send as many messages as you can to make your desired person your best friend or to have them the best friend badge, which is Mercury.
• Frequently check the badge and see which planet you have been assigned.
• You can enhance your interaction with your friend by using emojis and can also customize one.
• It includes exclusive emojis and more detailed analytics on your social interactions if you subscribe to Snapchat Plus.

Why are Snapchat Planets Not Showing?

Most often, the absence of Snapchat Planets is caused by some problem with Snapchat+, your app settings or your friendship status. Check out the reasons described below.

• Expired Subscription: Planets are available for those users who have active subscriptions to Snapchat+. Once the subscription period expires or is canceled, you will not be able to access the Friend Solar System feature.
• Application Requires Update: Sometimes, outdated Snapchat version does not support new Snapchat+ updates. You should update your app in the App Store or Google Play and start Snapchat again to see planets.
• Not in Each Other’s Best Friends List: Only those best friends who are listed as Best Friends have the possibility to view their own and others’ Planet rankings. You both should regularly communicate with each other in order to be in each other’s list of Best Friends.
• Friend Solar System Feature Is Disabled: In spite of Snapchat+ subscription, you should enable the Friend Solar System feature in your Snapchat+ settings first in order to view the planet ranking of other users.

Why Do Snapchat Planets Change?

Planets in Snapchat change due to automatic updates of the Friend Solar System depending on how recently you interacted. The way your interactions change determines whether your friendship rank moves nearer or further away from the Sun.

• Ranking Alterations: The planet you have doesn’t stay unchanged. Friendship rankings keep getting updated at all times in Snapchat, so the planet you are assigned can alter depending on how active you and your friends are with each other.
• Increased Activities With Other People: Should your friend exchange more Snaps and start chatting with someone else, then that individual will gain more positions in their Best Friends list. Your planet might lose its position or disappear from the top eight.
• Less Communication: Lessening the number of Snaps you send, reducing the number of chats or breaking a Snap streak will negatively affect your activity score and make you move down the planets list.

Snapchat Planets Privacy Explained

Snapchat Planets are made to help Snapchat+ users find out about their closest friendships while maintaining privacy of the rankings. There are certain people who have access to the information about planets while it is not available in public in your profile.

Can Others See My Planet?

Not really. The ranking of your planet will not be seen by others on Snapchat because of the fact that they will have access to it when they are Snapchat+ users themselves and then see their friend’s solar system.

Can I Hide Friend Solar System?

Yes. As a Snapchat+ user, you may disable the option of Friend Solar System in the settings of Snapchat+. It will disable the ability to view your planet ranking until you enable it again.

Is It Accurate?

There are no precise rankings in Snapchat Planets, as there are some estimates of your friendship ranking based on the number of chats and snaps recently.

Comparison of Snapchat Planets with Other Social Media Platforms

Many social media platforms offer similar features to Snapchat plants. There are Instagram’s Close Friends list, Facebook’s Friends category, etc. Snapchat’s planet feature is slightly different from all.

1. Option of choosing friends on the list: Snapchat does not allow you to choose your friends on the list of planets, but Instagram’s close friend list and Facebook’s Friend list allow you the same.
2. Excitement: Snapchat planet creates excitement about who would be on your friend list, but on Instagram’s and Facebook’s friend list, it is not like that.
3. Engagement: Snapchat Planet’s friend list is based on the engagement or sharing of snaps, but it is not the same in the case of other platforms. Whether or not you engage with your friends, you can add them.
4. No. of friends on a list: Snapchat Planet can have only 8 top friends with whom you interact most and on Instagram you can have an unlimited number of friends on the best friend list and on Facebook the close friend limit is up to 50,000.

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Suggested Reading => Top App to Hack into Someone’s Snapchat

Frequently Asked Questions

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Further Reading => List of the most downloaded apps

Conclusion

The Snapchat Solar System is a great feature that a Snapchat+ user can use. It makes an extra topping to the conversation and the app experience. You can easily get to know with whom you are sharing the most memories and it is very simple to enable the feature by just subscribing to the Snapchat+ version and manually activating it if you want it.

I recommend this feature and would rate it 4.5 stars as it makes the app experience more interesting and happening.