Snapchat uses the actual order of our solar system to rank your top 8 friends. In this setup, you are the Sun, and your friends orbit you based on how much you interact.
1. Mercury (The #1 Bestie)
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, and in Snap-land, this is your “Ride or Die.”
- Visual: A red planet with five floating red hearts.
- Ranking: 1st Closest Friend.
- Vibe: You probably share everything with this person, from morning coffee pics to late-night venting sessions.
2. Venus (The Close Second)
- Visual: A light brown/yellowish planet with pink, blue, and yellow hearts.
- Ranking: 2nd Closest Friend.
- Vibe: You’re super tight. If Mercury isn’t answering, you’re hitting up Venus.
3. Earth (The Core Connection)
- Visual: The classic blue and green globe with a moon and red hearts.
- Ranking: 3rd Closest Friend.
- Vibe: A very stable, reliable friendship. You’re definitely in their inner circle.
4. Mars (The High-Energy Pal)
- Visual: A red planet with purple and blue hearts plus some stars.
- Ranking: 4th Closest Friend.
- Vibe: You guys interact a lot, but maybe you don’t talk every single hour.
5. Jupiter (The Steady Orbit)
- Visual: A large orange planet with dark stripes and stars. (No hearts here!)
- Ranking: 5th Closest Friend.
- Vibe: You’re still “Best Friends,” but you’ve entered the outer rim of the top tier.
6. Saturn (The Constant Contact)
- Visual: An orange planet with its famous rings and stars.
- Ranking: 6th Closest Friend.
- Vibe: You guys definitely keep in touch, but the “hearts” have disappeared from the icon, showing a slightly lower intensity.
7. Uranus (The Occasional Orbit)
- Visual: A bright green planet with stars.
- Ranking: 7th Closest Friend.
- Vibe: You probably see their stories and send a Snap every couple of days.
8. Neptune (The Boundary Bestie)
- Visual: A deep blue, lonely-looking planet with stars.
- Ranking: 8th Closest Friend.
- Vibe: They made the cut! They are officially in your top 8, but they’re at the very edge of your solar system.
Read More: What Happens to Your Planet Rank If You Are Blocked?
Comparison Table: The 2026 Snapchat Planet Cheat Sheet
| Planet | Rank | Visual Cue | Interaction Level |
| Mercury | #1 | Red + 5 Red Hearts | Extreme (Daily/Hourly) |
| Venus | #2 | Brown + Multi-color Hearts | Very High |
| Earth | #3 | Blue/Green + Moon/Hearts | High |
| Mars | #4 | Red + Purple/Blue Hearts | Consistent |
| Jupiter | #5 | Orange/Striped + Stars | Moderate |
| Saturn | #6 | Orange with Rings + Stars | Regular |
| Uranus | #7 | Green + Stars | Occasional |
| Neptune | #8 | Blue + Stars | Minimal (Top 8 Edge) |
How Does the “Friend Solar System” Actually Work?
I get asked this all the time: “Martin, why am I Mercury for them, but they are Saturn for me?”
It’s simple but a little trippy. You have your own Solar System where you are the Sun. They have their own Solar System where they are the Sun.
- The “Best Friends” Badge: If you see a badge with a gold border that says “Best Friends,” it means you are both in each other’s top 8.
- The “Friends” Badge: If it just says “Friends,” it means you are in their top 8, but they didn’t quite make it into yours. (Awkward, right?)
Factors that Influence Your Rank
- Snap Frequency: Sending actual photos and videos counts way more than just text.
- Chatting: Long conversations in the DM help boost your “gravitational pull.”
- Story Engagement: Frequently viewing and replying to their stories shows the algorithm you care.
- Streaks: While not the only factor, keeping a long streak definitely keeps you in the inner planets.
Why Is Everyone Talking About This in 2026?
You might remember back in 2024, Snapchat actually made this feature opt-in because it was causing too much “friendship anxiety.” Honestly, I get it. Seeing yourself drop from Earth to Neptune can feel like a cold shoulder in digital form.
In 2026, the feature is still a core part of Snapchat Plus, but the UI is much cleaner. It’s now seen more as a fun “gamification” of social life rather than a strict social hierarchy. Plus, with the new AI-integrated “My AI” features, the way interaction is calculated has become even more precise.
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
Q: Can anyone else see my Solar System?
Nope! This is a private feature. Only you can see who is orbiting your Sun. However, if a friend has Snapchat Plus, they can see which planet you are in their system.
Q: Does the ranking update instantly?
I wish! In my experience, it takes about 24 to 48 hours for the planets to shift after a big “Snap session.” It’s not real-time, so don’t panic if you send 50 snaps and don’t move immediately.
Q: Can I manually move someone to Mercury?
Sadly, no. You can’t bribe the algorithm. The only way to move someone is to interact with them more than anyone else on your list.
Q: Is the Solar System available for free users?
No, this is strictly a Snapchat Plus perk. If you’re on the free version, you’ll just see the standard friend emojis (like the yellow heart or the “smirk” face).
My Personal Experience with the Snapchat Solar System
Last summer, I decided to run a little “social experiment” on my own friend group. My buddy Dave and I have had a 500-day Snapstreak, so I naturally assumed I was the center of his universe—his Mercury.
One Tuesday, I upgraded to Snapchat Plus and checked our status. I wasn’t Mercury. I wasn’t even Venus. I was Mars (4th place!). Honestly, it stung a little! I realized that while we sent a lot of mindless streaks, he was actually chatting and sharing more deep-dive stories with three other people.
What I learned: The Snapchat algorithm isn’t just about the number of Snaps; it’s about the quality and frequency of the interaction. I spent the next two weeks actually replying to his stories and sending more video notes. By the end of the month? I was back to being his Mercury. It’s a dynamic system, and watching those planets shift in real-time is both addictive and a little bit stressful!
Martin’s Final Tip: Don’t Let the Planets Stress You Out!
Here’s the deal: The Snapchat Planets Order is a cool way to see who you talk to the most, but it’s not the “end-all-be-all” of your real-life friendships. Sometimes my “Mercury” is just the person I’m planning a trip with that week, not necessarily my lifelong best friend.
My advice? Use the Solar System to keep your streaks alive and have a little fun with your inner circle. If you find yourself obsessing over being “Neptune” on a crush’s list, maybe put the phone down and go grab a real coffee with them!
Would you like me to show you how to enable or disable the Solar System feature in your Snapchat Plus settings?
