Hello! Martin here. Grab a coffee—or maybe an energy drink, if you’re trying to keep those Snapstreaks alive at 2 AM—and let’s talk shop.
If you’re like me, you probably remember when Snapchat was just a place to send pixelated photos that disappeared. Fast forward to 2026, and it’s a whole different beast. I’ve been using Snapchat Plus since it first dropped, and honestly, even as a tech enthusiast, some of these updates move faster than I can swipe.
The standard features are great, sure. But if you’re paying for the subscription, you’re likely missing out on the “secret sauce” buried deep in the settings. Today, I’m pulling back the curtain on the Snapchat Plus hidden features that actually change the way you use the app. No jargon, just the stuff that makes your digital life a little cooler.
My Personal Experience with Snapchat Plus
I’ll be real with you: I didn’t subscribe to Snapchat Plus for the badge. I subscribed because I’m a data nerd and a bit of a custom-everything freak.
About three months ago, I was out at a music festival in Austin. The signal was trash, and I was trying to meet up with my friend, Sarah. We’d lost each other near the main stage. Now, usually, the Snap Map is “fine,” but in a sea of 50,000 people, it’s not exactly a GPS. That’s when I remembered Ghost Trails.
Instead of just seeing where Sarah was (which was lagging), I could see the path she’d taken over the last few hours. I noticed she had headed toward the food trucks twenty minutes prior and hadn’t moved much since. I walked straight to the taco stand, and there she was.
That moment turned me from a “maybe” subscriber into a “lifer.” It wasn’t about the tech; it was about the app actually solving a real-world problem for me. Since then, I’ve spent way too much time tweaking every hidden setting I can find. Here is what I’ve learned.
Read More: Snapchat Plus Badge: How to Get & Display Your Gold Star
1. Custom App Icons: The Aesthetic Game-Changer
We spend hours choosing the right phone case, so why do we all have the same boring yellow icon on our home screens? One of the most underrated Snapchat Plus hidden features is the sheer depth of the custom app icons library.
In 2026, Snap added “Dynamic Icons” that change based on the time of day or even your local weather.
- How to find it: Go to your profile > Snapchat+ card > App Icon.
- Why it’s “Hidden”: Most people just pick the classic black or gold. But if you scroll to the bottom, there are seasonal and “Legacy” icons that give you that 2011 nostalgia.
I personally use the “Midnight Chrome” icon. It blends perfectly with my dark-mode setup and doesn’t scream “I’m obsessed with my Snapscore” when my phone is sitting on a table during a meeting.
2. Ghost Trails: The “Where Were You?” Tool
As I mentioned with my festival story, ghost trails are a powerhouse feature. For those who don’t know, this shows you the location history of your friends for the past 24 hours—only if they’ve already chosen to share their live location with you.
Why It’s Better in 2026:
Snapchat recently added “Contextual Trails.” Now, the map doesn’t just show a line; it highlights “Hotspots” where your friend spent more than 30 minutes.
Martin’s Note: This isn’t about being a stalker. It’s about safety and coordination. If a friend is traveling solo, being able to see they made it to their hotel safely without bugging them with a “u there?” text is a total peace-of-mind win.
3. The Story Rewatch Count (and the “Eyes” Emoji)
Have you ever felt that way—wondering if your crush is actually watching your story or if they just skipped past it? This is where the story rewatch count comes in.
When you swipe up on your story, you might see a set of 👀 (eyes) next to a number.
- The Reality Check: It doesn’t show you who rewatched it (sorry, investigators!), but it tells you how many people did.
- The Pro Tip: If your rewatch count is high but your view count is low, your content is actually engaging. I use this to see which of my tech reviews are actually hitting the mark.
Snapchat Plus Features Comparison (2026)
| Feature | Standard User | Snapchat Plus Subscriber |
| App Icon | Standard Yellow | 50+ Custom & Dynamic Icons |
| Location | Current Location Only | 24-Hour Ghost Trails |
| Story Length | 24 Hours Max | Up to 1 Week (Custom Expiry) |
| Best Friends | Top 8 | Top 16 + Pin #1 BFF |
| Support | Standard | Priority Snapchat+ Support |
4. Custom Story Expiration: Breaking the 24-Hour Rule
This is one of those snapchat+ tips that people always ask me about. We grew up thinking Stories must disappear in 24 hours. But what if you’re on a week-long road trip?
Subscribers can now set stories to last for:
- 1 Hour (The “limited drop” vibe)
- 12 Hours
- 24 Hours
- 2 Days
- 1 Week
I used the 1-week setting for my last PC build series. It kept the whole process in one place for my friends to follow along without me having to save everything to a Highlight. It feels much more organic.
5. Priority Story Replies: Getting Noticed
If you follow big creators or “Snap Stars,” your replies usually get buried under thousands of others. One of the “stealth” Snapchat Plus hidden features is that your replies are prioritized.
When you reply to a public story, your message literally moves to the top of the creator’s inbox. I’ve actually had two of my favorite tech YouTubers reply to my Snaps because of this. It’s a small thing, but if you’re trying to build a connection or just get a question answered, it’s a game-changer.
FAQ: What People are Asking on Reddit
Q: Can people see if I have Snapchat Plus?
A: Only if you want them to! You can toggle the “Snapchat+ Badge” (that little black star) on or off in your settings. If it’s off, and you aren’t using a custom app icon in a screenshot, nobody has to know.
Q: Does the Story Rewatch Indicator tell me names?
A: Nope. As of January 2026, it still only shows the total count of friends who rewatched. It protects privacy while giving you the engagement data.
Q: Is Ghost Trails “creepy”?
A: It only works if your friend has already agreed to share their location with you. You can’t see the history of anyone who has you on Ghost Mode. It’s all about mutual consent.
Q: Can I get Snapchat Plus for free?
A: Honestly, be careful. There are tons of “modded APKs” or sites claiming to give it for free. Most are just phishing for your login. Stick to the official 7-day trial if you want to test the waters.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, Snapchat Plus isn’t just about a star next to your name. It’s about making the app work for you. Whether you’re using custom app icons to match your vibe or ghost trails to find your friends in a crowd, these tools add a layer of functionality that the base app just doesn’t have.
Martin’s Final Tip: If you’re just starting out, go into your settings and turn on “Snapscore Multiplier.” It’s an experimental feature that’s been rolling out lately. It doesn’t actually change your score faster (that would be cheating!), but it gives you a much more detailed breakdown of how your score is calculated compared to your friends.
What do you think? Is the $3.99 a month worth it for these hidden gems, or are you sticking to the classic version? Let me know in the comments—or better yet, send me a Snap!
Would you like me to create a step-by-step guide on how to set up the new 2026 AI-generated Chat Wallpapers?
