Hey there! I’m Martin. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably spent an embarrassing amount of time staring at that little “Best Friends” list on Snapchat, wondering exactly where you stand with your inner circle.
The other day, I was grabbing a coffee with my friend Sarah, and we got into a playful argument about who talks to who more. I knew we were close, but I wanted to know exactly how the app categorized our friendship. That’s when I really dove deep into the world of Snapchat+ to figure out how to see your planet rank and what those celestial bodies actually mean for our real-world social lives.
Whether you’re trying to check your friendship rank or just curious about the “Snapchat+ position” icons, I’ve got you covered. Let’s break this down like we’re hanging out in a lounge, not reading a tech manual.
My Personal Experience with the Snapchat Solar System
I’ll be honest with you: when Snapchat first rolled out the “Solar System” feature for Plus subscribers, I was a bit skeptical. I thought, “Do I really need a digital planet to tell me who my best friend is?” But then, curiosity got the better of me. About three months ago, I noticed my “Planet Rank” with my brother had shifted from Mars to Jupiter. Now, we hadn’t been talking less, but I realized I’d been sending way more snaps to a group of college friends lately.
I spent the next hour digging through my settings and realized that the system is surprisingly sensitive. It’s not just about the total number of snaps ever sent; it’s a moving average of your most recent interactions. Seeing that shift actually prompted me to send a quick “thinking of you” snap to my brother. It’s funny how a little digital icon can actually nudge you to maintain a real-world connection.
I learned that these ranks aren’t just vanity metrics—they’re a reflection of your digital habits. If you’ve ever wondered why you’re suddenly “Saturn” in someone’s world, trust me, I’ve been there, and the logic behind it is actually pretty fascinating once you pull back the curtain.
Read More: Can You Have Multiple Mercury friends Snapchat Plus?
What Exactly is the Snapchat Solar System?
Before we get into the “how-to,” let’s clear up what we’re talking about. The Snapchat Solar System is an exclusive feature for Snapchat+ subscribers. It visualizes your friendship by placing you as a “planet” in your friend’s solar system, with them being the Sun.
Why Does Your Position Matter?
In the world of Snap, your Snapchat+ position is a direct reflection of your “Streak” and interaction frequency compared to everyone else that person talks to. If you are Mercury, you are their #1 best friend. If you are Neptune, you’re still in the top eight, but you’re a bit further out in the orbit.
Is it Private?
This is the part that usually trips people up. You can only see your own position in a friend’s solar system. You can’t go snooping around to see who is the “Mars” to your crush’s “Sun”—unless you have their phone (which I don’t recommend!). It’s a private bit of data between you and the app’s algorithm.
How to See Your Planet Rank: A Step-by-Step Guide
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it. If you’re paying for that subscription, you want to see the results. Here is the exact process to check friendship rank using the Solar System tool.
1. Ensure You Have Snapchat+
I know it sounds obvious, but I’ve had friends complain they can’t see their rank, only to realize their subscription lapsed. You need that little gold star badge next to your name.
2. Navigate to a Friend’s Profile
Open Snapchat and swipe right to your chat screen. Tap on the Bitmoji or the name of the friend you’re curious about. This takes you to their Friend’s Profile.
3. Look for the “Best Friends” or “Friends” Badge
If you are one of each other’s top eight friends, you will see a badge that says either “Best Friends” or “Friends” with a gold border.
4. Tap the Badge
This is the magic move. Tap that badge. A pop-up will appear showing a planet. This planet represents your how to see your planet rank result.
Martin’s Note: If you don’t see a badge at all, it simply means you aren’t in their top eight most-interacted-with users. Don’t take it personally! Maybe you’ve just been busy lately.
Decoding the Planets: What is Your Snapchat+ Position?
Once you see the planet, what does it actually mean? Snapchat doesn’t explicitly label them with numbers 1 through 8 in the UI, so you have to know your astronomy (or just keep this guide handy).
Here is the breakdown of the friend’s profile planet order from closest to the “Sun” (your friend) to furthest:
The Inner Circle (The Top 4)
- Mercury: This is the big one. You are their #1 Best Friend. You snap each other more than anyone else.
- Venus: You are their #2 Best Friend. You’re a close second, likely with a very high streak.
- Earth: You are their #3 Best Friend. A solid, consistent connection.
- Mars: You are their #4 Best Friend. You’re still in the daily rotation!
The Outer Reach (The Top 5-8)
- Jupiter: You are their #5 Best Friend.
- Saturn: You are their #6 Best Friend.
- Uranus: You are their #7 Best Friend.
- Neptune: You are their #8 Best Friend.
Does seeing yourself as “Neptune” make you want to snap them more? Or are you happy just being in the orbit? I personally find that being “Earth” is the sweet spot—close enough to be “besties” but without the pressure of maintaining that #1 Mercury spot!
Comparison of Snapchat Planet Ranks
To make this even easier to digest, I’ve put together a quick reference table. You can bookmark this for the next time you’re trying to remember if Uranus is closer than Neptune (it is!).
| Planet | Rank | Visual Appearance | Meaning in the Friendship |
| Mercury | 1st | Pink/Red with hearts | You are their absolute favorite person to snap. |
| Venus | 2nd | Beige/Light Brown | You are incredibly close; almost #1. |
| Earth | 3rd | Blue and Green | A top-tier, reliable friendship. |
| Mars | 4th | Red with stars | You’re a “core” friend in their daily life. |
| Jupiter | 5th | Orange/Brown with stripes | You interact often, but they have a busy inner circle. |
| Saturn | 6th | Yellow with rings | You’re a solid friend, but not in the top 5. |
| Uranus | 7th | Greenish-Blue | You’re in the top 8, likely a consistent chatter. |
| Neptune | 8th | Deep Blue | You’ve made the cut! You’re officially a “Best Friend.” |
Why Can’t I See My Rank? (Troubleshooting with Martin)
Honestly, this part confused me at first, too. I’d go to a profile and… nothing. No badge, no planet. If you’re struggling to find how to see your planet rank, check these three things:
- Subscription Status: Double-check your Snapchat+ settings. If your payment failed or the trial ended, the feature vanishes instantly.
- Mutual Best Friends: The Solar System feature only works if both of you are in each other’s “Best Friends” list (though you only need one subscription to see your own rank).
- Privacy Settings: If your friend has turned off the “Solar System” feature in their own Snapchat+ settings, you won’t be able to see your position in their world. Yeah, Snapchat added a privacy toggle because some people found the ranks a little too… dramatic.
FAQ: Your Burning Snapchat Solar System Questions
1. Does the other person know I checked my planet rank?
Nope! Snapchat doesn’t send a notification when you tap on the “Best Friends” badge to see your planet. It’s a completely “ghost” action. You can check it ten times a day (though maybe don’t, for your own sanity!) and they’ll never know.
2. Can I see who else is in their Solar System?
No. This is a big one. You can only see your position. You’ll never know who the Mercury is if you are the Venus. Snapchat keeps that data private to prevent unnecessary drama.
3. How often do the planet ranks update?
In my experience, it’s not real-time, but it’s close. If you spend an entire afternoon snapping someone, you might see your rank move within 24 to 48 hours. The algorithm looks at a “rolling window” of your activity.
4. What if I have the badge but no planet appears?
This usually happens if the app needs a refresh. Try force-closing Snapchat or checking for an update in the App Store/Google Play Store. If that fails, it might be a temporary server glitch—Snapchat is known for those!
5. Why did I drop from Mercury to Mars overnight?
It’s a competition! If your friend started snapping someone else way more than you, they might have jumped ahead in the “queue.” It’s not that you snapped less; it’s that someone else snapped more.
Martin’s Final Tip: Don’t Let the Planets Rule Your Life
At the end of the day, knowing how to see your planet rank is a fun way to gamify your social life, but it’s just an algorithm. I’ve had “Earth” friends who I talk to once a week but our conversations are two hours long. Snapchat’s “position” system values frequency—how many times you hit send—not necessarily the quality of the friendship.
So, if you find yourself as a Neptune, don’t sweat it. It just means you guys probably prefer hanging out in person rather than sending 50 selfies a day!
My final tip: If you want to move up the ranks, try sending more “low-stakes” snaps. A photo of your lunch or a cool building you walked past. It’s the frequency that moves the needle.
Would you like me to explain how the “Solar System” toggle works in your settings so you can hide your own rank from others? Just let me know!
