Hello there! Grab a seat and your favorite latte. I’m Martin, and if you’ve spent as much time on Snapchat as I have, you know it’s not just an app anymore—it’s a whole ecosystem. Lately, I’ve been getting hit with the same question from my crew: “Martin, what’s the deal with these Snapchat Plus features? Are Ghost Trails the same as the Planets thing?”
The short answer? Not even close. One is about where your friends are moving, and the other is about how much you’re actually talking to them. But if you’re paying for that Snapchat Plus subscription, you really need to know how to use both without making things awkward.
Let’s dive into the cosmic (and slightly creepy) world of Snapchat Ghost Trails vs Planets.
My Personal Experience with Ghost Trails and Planets
I’ll be honest with you: when I first saw a “Ghost Trail” on my map, I thought my app was glitching. It was a Friday night last year, and I was trying to meet up with my buddy, Leo. I saw his Bitmoji on the map, but there was this glowing yellow line following him like a digital breadcrumb trail.
I realized I could see exactly which route he took to the coffee shop. It felt like I had superpowers—or like I was a detective. A few minutes later, I checked our “Friendship Profile” and saw I was Mars in his Solar System. I remember thinking, “Wait, only Mars? I thought we were Earth-level besties!” That night, I spent way too much time tapping around to figure out the logic. I learned that tracking location with Ghost Trails is a literal “where are they” tool, while the friend solar system tools are a “how much do they like me” leaderboard. Since then, I’ve used these features to plan better meetups and, occasionally, to realize I need to send more Snaps to my sister so I don’t drop to Neptune!
Read More: Mercury on Snapchat: What the #1 Friend Rank Really Means
Snapchat Ghost Trails vs Planets: The Big Picture
If you’re a power user like me, you know Snapchat Plus features are all about that extra layer of data. But it’s easy to mix these two up because they both live in that “exclusive” menu.
What are Ghost Trails?
Ghost Trails are a Map feature. If your friend shares their location with you, you can see where they’ve been in the last 24 hours. It’s not just a point on a map; it’s a path.
- Purpose: Seeing movement patterns.
- Visibility: Only on the Snap Map.
- Vibe: Very “tracker-ish.”
What is the Friend Solar System (Planets)?
The Solar System is a friendship ranking. It assigns a planet to your top 8 friends based on your interaction frequency. You are the Sun, and they orbit you.
- Purpose: Measuring friendship “closeness” via data.
- Visibility: Inside the Friendship Profile.
- Vibe: Competitive and social.
Deep Dive: How Ghost Trails Actually Work
I get a lot of questions about the privacy side of tracking location with Ghost Trails. Here’s the deal: you can’t just stalk anyone. Both people usually need to have certain settings toggled on.
The 24-Hour Window
Unlike the standard Snap Map which shows where someone is now, Ghost Trails show the “history.” If I go from my house to the gym, then to work, my Ghost Trail shows that entire line. It’s incredibly useful when you’re trying to see if a friend is actually “on their way” or if they’re still sitting at home!
Privacy Hurdles
Honestly, this feature can be a bit controversial. To see a trail:
- Your friend must be sharing their location with you.
- They must have the feature enabled (or at least not have Ghost Mode on).
- You must have Snapchat Plus.
Martin’s Note: If you see someone’s Bitmoji but no yellow line, they’ve likely cleared their trail or haven’t moved enough to trigger the pathing. Don’t take it personally!
Cracking the Code: The Friend Solar System
Now, let’s talk about the friend solar system tools. This is where things get “spacey.” Snapchat ranks your top 8 best friends using the order of the planets in our actual solar system.
The Planet Rankings Explained
Have you ever wondered why you’re suddenly “Saturn” when you used to be “Mercury”? It’s all about the Snaps, chats, and Story views.
- Mercury: Your #1 Best Friend. You guys are basically attached at the hip (digitally).
- Venus: Your #2. Very close, but not quite the top spot.
- Earth: #3. Solid inner circle.
- Mars: #4. You talk often, but maybe don’t share every single detail.
- Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune: These represent spots 5 through 8. If you’re Neptune, you’re just barely making the cut of the “Top 8.”
How to Check Your Rank
To see where you stand, go to a friend’s profile. If you both have Snapchat Plus, you’ll see a “Best Friends” or “Friends” badge. Tap it, and it’ll tell you which planet you are in their universe. It’s a great way to see if that crush is actually snapping you as much as they say they are!
Comparison Table: Ghost Trails vs. Planets
| Feature | Ghost Trails | Friend Solar System |
| Primary Goal | Track physical movement history | Rank digital interaction levels |
| Location | Snap Map | Friendship Profile |
| Timeframe | Last 24 hours | Ongoing interaction history |
| Visual Cue | Yellow glowing line on map | Planet icons (Mercury to Neptune) |
| Privacy Level | High (Requires location sharing) | Medium (Private to the user) |
| Best For… | Finding friends in real life | Seeing who your “real” BFFs are |
Common Glitches and “Why Can’t I See It?”
I’ve had moments where I’m paying for Plus and things just… don’t show up. It’s frustrating, right? Here is what I’ve learned from troubleshooting my own app:
Why Ghost Trails Vanish
- Ghost Mode: If your friend toggles on Ghost Mode, their trail vanishes instantly. It’s the ultimate “incognito” move.
- Inactive for 24 hours: If they haven’t opened the app or moved, there’s no trail to show.
- App Updates: Sometimes, after a big iOS or Android update, you have to go back into your Snapchat Plus settings and make sure the feature didn’t toggle itself off.
Why the Solar System Might Be “Off”
Recently, Snapchat made the Solar System feature opt-in because it was causing a bit of “friendship anxiety.” If you don’t see the planets, you might need to go to your Profile > Snapchat Plus > and toggle “Friend Solar System” to ON.
FAQ: Your Snapchat Plus Questions Answered
Q: Can my friends see that I’m looking at their Ghost Trail?
Martin: Nope! Snapchat doesn’t send a notification when you’re looking at someone on the map or following their trail. However, they can see if you’ve rewatched their Story, so don’t get those two confused!
Q: If I’m “Mercury” in someone’s Solar System, are they “Mercury” in mine?
Martin: Not necessarily! Friendship can be a one-way street on Snap. You might be sending them 100 Snaps a day (making you their Mercury), while they are sending most of their Snaps to someone else. It’s a bit of a reality check sometimes.
Q: How often do the Planet rankings update?
Martin: In my experience, it’s not instant. It usually recalibrates every few days based on the “rolling” average of your interactions. Don’t expect to move from Mars to Mercury in an hour.
Q: Do Ghost Trails work if the phone is dead?
Martin: Only up until the point the phone turned off. The “trail” is a history of where the app last pinged the GPS. If the phone stays off, the trail just stops.
Martin’s Final Tip
If you’re just starting out with these features, my advice is to use Ghost Trails for logistics and Planets for fun. Don’t get too hung up on being someone’s “Neptune”—the algorithm is weird, and sometimes a long group chat can mess with the rankings.
The coolest part of Snapchat Plus is the customization, so don’t forget to check out the custom app icons and the “Post-View Emoji” while you’re at it.
What about you? Have you ever had an “awkward” moment because of the Solar System rankings? Drop a comment or send me a Snap—I’d love to hear your stories!
Would you like me to create a step-by-step guide on how to customize your Snapchat Plus Map icons next?
