Hey there! Martin here. If you’re anything like me, your phone is basically an extension of your arm, and Snapchat is usually the app that’s open 90% of the time.
A few weeks back, I was grabbing a burger with my buddy Leo. He showed me his phone and said, “Dude, look—you’re literally my Mars right now.” I had no clue if that was a compliment or if I’d been demoted. Turns out, he was talking about the Snapchat Plus Planets feature. Being a tech nerd who can’t resist a “premium” shiny button, I decided to drop the $3.99 and dive headfirst into a Snapchat Plus Planets review for a full 30 days.
Is it a game-changer for your social life, or just a digital mood ring? Let’s break it down over a virtual coffee.
My Personal Experience with Snapchat Plus Planets
I’ll be real: the first week was a total ego trip. I spent way too much time tapping on my best friends’ profiles to see where I landed in their “Solar System.”
I remember one specific Tuesday night. I noticed I had dropped from “Mercury” (the #1 spot) to “Venus” (#2) on my sister’s profile. We hadn’t chatted in two days because I was swamped with work. My immediate, very human reaction? I snapped her a ridiculous filter-faced video just to “reclaim my orbit.”
What I learned over the month is that this feature is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s a fun, gamified way to see who you’re actually vibing with. On the other, if you’re prone to overthinking, seeing yourself as someone’s “Neptune” (the distant 8th spot) might give you a tiny pang of “friendship FOMO.” By day 20, I stopped checking it every hour and started using it as a pulse-check for my closest connections. It’s less about the “rank” and more about the “rhythm” of your chats.
Read More: Future of Snapchat Plus: What’s Next After Planets?
The Deep Dive: How the Solar System Actually Works
The Snapchat Plus Planets review wouldn’t be complete without explaining the “how.” In this system, you are the Sun. Your top eight friends are the planets orbiting you. Their position depends on how much you interact with them compared to everyone else.
The Snapchat Planet Order (Closest to Farthest)
If you’re confused about whether “Jupiter” is better than “Saturn,” don’t worry—I was too. Here is the definitive order of the Friend Solar System:
- Mercury: Your #1 Best Friend.
- Venus: Your 2nd closest.
- Earth: Your 3rd closest (the one with the cute little Moon!).
- Mars: Your 4th closest.
- Jupiter: Your 5th closest.
- Saturn: Your 6th closest.
- Uranus: Your 7th closest.
- Neptune: Your 8th closest.
What Determines Your Rank?
It’s not just about one thing. Snapchat’s algorithm looks at a mix of:
- Snapstreaks: How long you’ve been sending daily snaps.
- Chat Frequency: How often you’re actually talking.
- Story Interactions: Replying to their stories or viewing them frequently.
Comparison: Free Snapchat vs. Snapchat Plus Planets
Is the “Solar System” enough of a reason to pay? Let’s look at the numbers and perks.
| Feature | Free Version | Snapchat Plus ($3.99/mo) |
| Friend Ranking | Basic Emoji (Yellow Heart, etc.) | Full Solar System (8 Planets) |
| BFF Pinning | No | Yes (Pin your #1 to the top) |
| Story Rewatch Count | No | Yes (See who’s lurking!) |
| Custom App Icons | No | Yes (Change the look) |
| Ghost Trails | No | Yes (See where friends were) |
Is It Worth the Money? Martin’s Honest Take
After 30 days, I have thoughts. If you’re a casual user who opens the app once a day to check a story, save your $4. You won’t get the value out of it.
However, if you’re a “Power User”—meaning you have 10+ active streaks and use Snap as your primary messenger—it’s actually quite fun. For the price of a cheap latte, you get a lot of “social data” that’s otherwise hidden. Is it worth the money? For me, yes, mostly because I love the “Story Rewatch” feature more than the planets themselves.
One light frustration: The planets don’t update in real-time. Sometimes I’d have an all-night chat marathon with a friend, and they’d still be “Uranus” the next morning. It seems the “planetary shift” happens every 24–48 hours.
FAQ: Your Burning Space Questions
1. Can my friends see what planet I assigned them?
Nope! Your Solar System is private to you. They only know if they have Snapchat Plus and check their position in your universe. It’s all very “secret agent” vibes.
2. Does the Solar System affect my Snap Score?
Not at all. Your Snap Score is based on the volume of snaps sent and received. The Planets are just a visual representation of who those snaps are going to.
3. Why did my “Mercury” friend disappear?
If you stop interacting or if someone else “out-snaps” them, they’ll drift further away into the outer reaches of your solar system (like Saturn or Neptune).
4. Can I turn off the Planets feature?
Yes! If the rankings give you anxiety, you can toggle the “Friend Solar System” off in your Snapchat Plus settings.
Martin’s Final Tip & Conclusion
My 30-day Snapchat Plus Planets review taught me one big thing: don’t take it too seriously. It’s a fun way to visualize your digital circle, but it’s not a legal document on the state of your friendships.
Martin’s Final Tip: If you want to move up in someone’s Solar System, don’t just send “blank” snaps for the sake of a streak. Actually chat. The algorithm seems to favor meaningful interactions over just spamming the camera button.
Would you ever pay for a social media “ranking” system, or does it feel a bit too much like high school? Let me know your thoughts!
