What Do the Planets Mean on Snapchat? Friend Solar System Explained
Learn what every Snapchat planet means, how the Friend Solar System works, what each ranking represents, and why your planet can change over time.
What do the planets mean on Snapchat? If you've ever opened a friend's profile and noticed a small planet orbiting around the Sun, you're probably wondering what it means. Snapchat uses the Friend Solar System to show how close you are to someone based on your interactions.
Each planet represents a different friendship ranking. Mercury means you're their closest Best Friend, while Neptune means you're further down the list. These rankings aren't permanent—they change over time based on how often you snap, chat, and interact with each other.
In this guide, you'll learn what every Snapchat planet means, how the Friend Solar System works, how to check your own planet, and what to do if you can't see the feature.
Snapchat Planets are part of the Snapchat+ Friend Solar System feature. They show your position in another person's Best Friends list based on how frequently you interact. Mercury is #1 Best Friend, while Neptune is #8.
Key Takeaways
• Snapchat Planets are part of Snapchat+.
• You are the Sun.
• Mercury means #1 Best Friend.
• Neptune means #8.
• Rankings change automatically.
What Are Snapchat Planets?
Snapchat Planets are part of the Friend Solar System, an exclusive feature available to Snapchat+ subscribers. Instead of showing a simple numbered list of your closest friends, Snapchat turns those rankings into a miniature solar system.
In this system, you are represented as the Sun, while your friends appear as planets orbiting around you. The closer a planet is to the Sun, the higher that friend ranks in your Best Friends list. For example, Mercury represents your closest Best Friend, while Neptune represents your eighth closest.
The ranking is based on your overall interactions, including snaps, chats, streaks, and other activity. Because your interactions change over time, your assigned planet can change too.
Snapchat Planets in Order
The Friend Solar System uses eight planets to represent your position in someone's Best Friends list. Here's what each planet means, from the closest friend to the eighth closest.
| Planet | Rank | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury | #1 | Closest Best Friend |
| Venus | #2 | Second Closest Friend |
| Earth | #3 | Third Closest Friend |
| Mars | #4 | Fourth Closest Friend |
| Jupiter | #5 | Fifth Closest Friend |
| Saturn | #6 | Sixth Closest Friend |
| Uranus | #7 | Seventh Closest Friend |
| Neptune | #8 | Eighth Closest Friend |
Meaning of Every Snapchat Planet
Each Snapchat planet represents your position in another person's Best Friends list. The closer the planet is to the Sun, the more you interact with that friend. Below is what every planet means, starting with Mercury and ending with Neptune.
Mercury: #1 Best Friend
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, which means you're that person's #1 Best Friend on Snapchat. You and your friend interact more than anyone else through snaps, chats, streaks, and other activity. If you see Mercury, it means you're at the top of their Friend Solar System. Your ranking can still change over time if your interactions become less frequent.
Venus: #2 Best Friend
Venus represents the second closest friendship. You're one of their most active friends, but someone else currently interacts with them slightly more often. If you continue chatting and sending snaps regularly, your ranking may move up to Mercury.
Earth: #3 Best Friend
Earth means you're their third closest Best Friend. You interact often enough to stay near the top of their Friend Solar System, but there are two friends with higher activity. Your planet may change depending on how frequently you communicate over time.
Mars: #4 Best Friend
Mars indicates you're the fourth closest friend in their Best Friends list. While you still interact regularly, three other friends currently have stronger engagement. Sending more snaps, replying to stories, and maintaining streaks can improve your ranking.
Jupiter: #5 Best Friend
Jupiter represents the fifth position in the Friend Solar System. You're still one of their closest friends, although your conversations and snaps aren't as frequent as the top four. Rankings change automatically based on your overall activity.
Saturn: #6 Best Friend
If Saturn appears, you're their sixth closest Best Friend. You probably interact from time to time, but not as consistently as friends with planets closer to the Sun. Increasing your conversations and snaps may improve your position.
Uranus: #7 Best Friend
Uranus means you're ranked seventh in their Best Friends list. While you're still among their closest Snapchat friends, your interactions happen less often than those ranked above you. This position can change naturally as your activity changes.
Neptune: #8 Best Friend
Neptune is the outermost planet in Snapchat's Friend Solar System and represents the eighth closest Best Friend. You're still within their top friends, but your interactions are the least frequent among the eight planet rankings. Staying active with chats and snaps may help move you closer to the Sun.
How Does Snapchat Decide Your Planet?
Snapchat doesn't randomly assign planets. Instead, the Friend Solar System uses your interactions with another person to estimate how close your friendship is. Although Snapchat hasn't publicly explained the exact algorithm, it's widely understood that your activity plays the biggest role in determining your ranking.
• Snaps sent and received
• Chat conversations
• Snapstreak activity
• Story replies and reactions
• Overall interaction frequency
• Recent activity
Because these factors constantly change, your planet can also change. For example, someone who is Mercury today could become Venus or Earth in a few weeks if another friend becomes more active. The Friend Solar System updates automatically, so there's nothing you need to do manually.
How to Check Your Snapchat Planet
Checking your Snapchat planet only takes a few seconds, but you'll need an active Snapchat+ subscription because the Friend Solar System is a premium feature. If you're subscribed, follow these steps to see where you rank in a friend's Best Friends list.
1. Open the Snapchat app on your phone.
2. Tap the friend's Bitmoji or profile picture to open their profile.
3. Look for the Best Friends or Friends badge underneath their profile information.
4. Tap the badge to open the Friend Solar System.
5. Your assigned planet will appear, showing your current friendship ranking.
If you don't see the Best Friends or Friends badge, either you don't have Snapchat+, the feature is disabled, or you aren't currently in that person's Best Friends list.
Why Can't I See Snapchat Planets?
If the Friend Solar System isn't showing up on Snapchat, don't worry. In most cases, there's a simple explanation. The feature is only available under certain conditions, and missing just one of them can prevent planets from appearing.
1. You don't have Snapchat+
Snapchat Planets are only available to Snapchat+ subscribers. If you're using the free version of Snapchat, the Friend Solar System won't appear on your account.
2. Friend Solar System is turned off
Snapchat+ users can disable the Friend Solar System feature. If it's turned off, you won't see planets until it's enabled again.
3. You're not in their Best Friends list
Running an older version of Snapchat can sometimes prevent new features from appearing. Updating the app ensures you have the latest improvements and bug fixes.
4. Your Snapchat app needs updating
Running an older version of Snapchat can sometimes prevent new features from appearing. Updating the app ensures you have the latest improvements and bug fixes.
5. Temporary app bug
Occasionally, Snapchat experiences temporary bugs or server-side issues. Closing and reopening the app, signing out, or waiting a little while may resolve the problem.
6. The feature isn't available yet
Snapchat occasionally rolls out new features gradually. If the Friend Solar System hasn't reached your account yet, it may become available after a future app update.
Best Friends vs Friends Badge: What's the Difference?
Many Snapchat users confuse the Best Friends badge with the Friends badge, but they don't mean the same thing.
The Best Friends badge means you and the other person are mutual Best Friends. In other words, you both rank highly in each other's Friend Solar System.
The Friends badge means you're one of their Best Friends, but they may not be one of yours. This is completely normal because everyone's interaction history is different.
| Badge | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Best Friends | You are both in each other's Best Friends list. |
| Friends | You're in their Best Friends list, but they might not be in yours. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Snapchat Planets only available with Snapchat+?
Can my Snapchat planet change?
Can someone see their planet in my Solar System?
What does Mercury mean on Snapchat?
What does Neptune mean on Snapchat?
Can I choose my Snapchat planet?
Does Snapchat reveal its ranking algorithm?
Final Thoughts
Snapchat's Friend Solar System is a fun way to visualize your closest friendships, but it's based on real interaction patterns rather than random assignments. Whether you're Mercury, Earth, or Neptune, your planet simply reflects how active you and your friend have been recently.
If you want to move closer to the Sun, the answer is simple: stay in touch. Sending snaps, chatting regularly, maintaining streaks, and replying to stories can all influence your ranking over time. Since the Friend Solar System updates automatically, your position may change whenever your interactions do.
