Snapchat Planets Order and Meaning – How Does It Work? (2025)

Ever opened Snapchat and wondered why your best friends are orbiting around you like planets? Or maybe you’ve heard someone brag, “I’m their Mercury!” and felt left out of the cosmic loop? You’re not alone—Snapchat’s Friend Solar System (aka Snapchat Planets) is one of the app’s most playful and mysterious features, sparking curiosity and a little friendly competition.

But what does it actually mean to be someone’s Mercury, Jupiter, or Neptune? How does Snapchat decide where your friends land in your universe—and can you boost your own cosmic status?

In this guide, you’ll discover everything you need to know about Snapchat Planets: what they are, how they work, what each planet means for your friendships, and how to check (or even improve) your own ranking in the Snapchat galaxy. Let’s blast off!

What are Snapchat Planets and the Friend Solar System?

Let’s start with the basics: Snapchat Planets—sometimes called the Friend Solar System—is a premium feature for Snapchat Plus members, now available in over 25 countries (including the US, UK, France, Canada, India, and more).

Here’s how it works:

• You are the Sun in your own Snapchat universe.
• Your top 8 friends become planets (from Mercury to Neptune) based on how much you interact with each of them.

The closer someone’s planet is to your Sun, the more you snap and chat with them. And yes, this universe is totally private—only you can see where your friends “orbit” you. It’s dynamic, too: the order can change as your friendships and activities evolve.

How Does the Snapchat Planets System Work?

Once you’ve enabled the Friend Solar System, Snapchat quietly keeps track of your snaps, chats, and streaks. It then automatically assigns each of your top eight friends a planet—Mercury (closest) to Neptune (farthest):

• You’re always the Sun in your solar system.
• Mercury goes to your #1 bestie—the person you interact with the most.
• The rest (Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) follow in order based on your interactions.
• The arrangement can change dynamically as your habits shift.

A fun twist: your place in someone else’s solar system might be totally different. You could be their Mercury, but they might be your Jupiter. That’s just the way the universe spins!

Snapchat Planets Order and Meanings: In-Depth Breakdown

The planets follow the same order as our real solar system, but each one has its own digital twist. Here’s what each planet means—and what it says about your friendship:

What Snapchat Planet Order Reveals About Your Best Friends

Snapchat’s Friend Solar System is more than just a ranking system—it’s a playful, cosmic metaphor for the ever-shifting dynamics of your closest friendships. Each planet emoji in this system isn’t just a visual cue; it carries its own meaning, emotional weight, and social significance.

In your Snapchat universe, you are always the Sun, and your eight closest friends orbit you as planets—each assigned a unique planet emoji based on how much you interact. The closer the planet is to you, the stronger and more active your digital bond. But these emojis aren’t just about frequency—they’re about the story, energy, and emotion behind each friendship.

Let’s explore what each Snapchat planet means for your best friends, both visually and emotionally:

1. Mercury – Your #1 Best Friend

• Meaning: Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and represents your absolute closest friend on Snapchat—the person you interact with the most through snaps and chats.
• Visual Representation: Typically shown as a red planet with several red hearts and sometimes stars.
• What It Says About Your Friendship: You and this friend likely share daily snaps, maintain long streaks, and have frequent conversations. This is your ride-or-die on Snapchat.

2. Venus – Your Second Closest Friend

• Meaning: Venus is assigned to your second most-interacted-with friend.
• Visual Representation: A light brown or golden planet surrounded by colorful hearts (often pink, yellow, and blue).
• What It Says About Your Friendship: You have a strong, consistent connection, sharing snaps and chats regularly, though not quite as much as with your Mercury.

3. Earth – Your Third Closest Friend

• Meaning: Earth represents your third-best friend in the Snapchat solar system.
• Visual Representation: Blue and green planet, usually with a moon, stars, and red hearts orbiting.
• What It Says About Your Friendship: This is a reliable, loyal friend. You interact often, and your friendship is stable and supportive.

4. Mars – Your Fourth Closest Friend

• Meaning: Mars is for your fourth most-interacted-with friend.
• Visual Representation: A red or reddish-orange planet, often with purple and blue hearts and stars.
• What It Says About Your Friendship: There’s plenty of energy and fun in this friendship. You might not talk every day, but when you do, it’s lively and engaging.

5. Jupiter – Your Fifth Closest Friend

• Meaning: Jupiter is assigned to your fifth closest friend.
• Visual Representation: A large reddish-orange planet with dark stripes and stars.
• What It Says About Your Friendship: This friend brings a big personality to your Snapchat world. Your interactions are positive and fun, even if they’re less frequent.

6. Saturn – Your Sixth Closest Friend

• Meaning: Saturn represents your sixth best friend.
• Visual Representation: An orange planet with a distinctive ring and stars.
• What It Says About Your Friendship: This is a steady, supportive friend. You may not chat every day, but you can count on them for meaningful conversations and advice.

7. Uranus – Your Seventh Closest Friend

• Meaning: Uranus is for your seventh most-interacted-with friend.
• Visual Representation: A green planet, usually without hearts.
• What It Says About Your Friendship: This friend brings a unique perspective to your circle. Your chats are less frequent but always interesting.

8. Neptune – Your Eighth Closest Friend

• Meaning: Neptune is the last planet in the system, assigned to your eighth closest friend.
• Visual Representation: A blue planet, often depicted as cold or distant, with minimal decoration.
• What It Says About Your Friendship: You rarely interact with this friend, but the connection still exists. They might be an old friend or someone you only chat with occasionally.

Key Points to Remember:

• The order can change as your interactions change.
• The visual design helps you quickly spot where friends rank.
• Sometimes, it’s just a fun way to see who’s orbiting closest to your “sun”—and who’s drifting out to Neptune.

How to Interpret the Planet Emojis in Your Friendships

• Dynamic and Ever-Changing: Your planet rankings aren’t set in stone. Interactions ebb and flow, so don’t be surprised if a friend shifts from Mercury to Mars or vice versa. This fluidity is part of the fun—and sometimes, the drama—of the system.
• Personal and Private: Only you can see your friends’ planet positions in your solar system, and your position in someone else’s orbit may be completely different. This privacy means the emojis are for your eyes only, adding a layer of intrigue and personal meaning.
• Emotional Impact: It’s natural to feel a little thrill (or disappointment) when your status changes. If you notice a shift, it’s often a reflection of recent activity, not the entire history or depth of your friendship.
• A Playful Metaphor: Remember, Snapchat Planets is a gamified, visual shorthand for how much you’re interacting—not a measure of the true value of your friendships. They’re meant to be fun and engaging, not a source of stress or competition.

How to Enable or Disable the Friend Solar System

Here’s the important part: the Snapchat Planets feature is only available to Snapchat Plus subscribers. Snapchat Plus is the app’s premium subscription, designed for users who want extra insights and customization.

To enable:

1. Subscribe to Snapchat Plus.
2. Open Snapchat and tap your profile icon.
3. Scroll to the Snapchat+ section.
4. Find the “Friend Solar System” option and toggle it ON.

To disable:

• Just repeat the above steps and toggle the feature OFF.

Note: The feature is OFF by default for new subscribers, so you’re always in control.

How to View Your Snapchat Planets

Ready to see your cosmic status? Here’s how to check your planet in a friend’s universe:

1. Open a Friend’s Profile: Go to your friend list and select the friend whose planet status you want to check.
2. Look for the “Best Friends” or “Friends” badge:
   • Best Friends badge: You’re both in each other’s top 8.
   • Friends badge: You’re in their top 8, but they’re not in yours.
3. Tap the Badge: This will reveal which planet you represent in their solar system.

Note: Only you can see your friends’ planets in your universe. They can only see their own ranking if they check your profile (and both of you have Snapchat Plus).

How to Improve Your Planet Position

If you want to become someone’s Mercury or move up in their solar system, increase your interactions:

• Send snaps and chats more often.
• Maintain long streaks.
• Respond quickly to messages.
• Interact with their stories and content.
• Avoid long periods of inactivity.

Snapchat recalculates these rankings regularly, so consistent engagement is key to holding a top spot.

Why Did Snapchat Introduce Planets?

Snapchat has always loved experimenting with new ways to make friendships more engaging. Remember when friend emojis and fire streaks were the big thing? The Friend Solar System takes that idea to the next level, gamifying your top eight friends and making your connections feel even more interactive and fun.

It’s also worth noting: This feature is opt-in and disabled by default, especially after concerns about visible rankings affecting users’ feelings (teens, we’re looking at you!). You’re always in control—turn it on or off as you wish.

Privacy and User Concerns of Snapchat Planets

While the Snapchat Planets feature adds a fun and competitive twist to social interactions, it’s important to consider its impact on privacy and emotional well-being:

• Personal Rankings Are Private: Only you can see your friends’ planet positions in your solar system. Likewise, you can only see your own position in someone else’s solar system if you check their profile (and both of you have Snapchat Plus).
• Opt-In and Control: The Friend Solar System is disabled by default for new Snapchat Plus subscribers. You have to manually enable it in your settings, and you can turn it off at any time if you feel uncomfortable with visible rankings.
• Emotional Impact: Some users may feel anxious or competitive about their rankings. If you notice that the feature affects your mood or relationships, consider disabling it or focusing more on real-world interactions.
• No Manual Adjustment: You cannot manually assign or change friends’ planet positions—rankings are determined automatically by Snapchat’s algorithm based on your interaction patterns.
• Data Usage: Snapchat uses your snap and chat data to determine rankings, but these details are not publicly shared or visible to others outside your private solar system view.

Pro tip: If the Friend Solar System ever feels stressful, you can disable it without losing any other Snapchat Plus perks.

Snapchat Plus Pricing and Subscription Guide

Snapchat Planets are exclusive to Snapchat Plus subscribers.

Pricing (2025):

• A free trial (usually 7 days) is often available.
• Prices may vary by region and are subject to change.

How to Subscribe:

1. Download and install Snapchat.
2. Sign up or log in.
3. Go to your profile.
4. Tap the settings icon, then Snapchat+.
5. Choose your plan and activate your free trial if available.
6. Add your payment method and confirm.

Final Thoughts

Snapchat Planets turn your friend list into a playful, cosmic mini-universe—encouraging you to celebrate your closest connections and maybe even spark a little friendly competition. If you’re a Snapchat Plus user, have fun exploring your own solar system! But always remember: the best friendships are built on more than just snaps and rankings.

Whether you’re aiming for Mercury status or just curious about your orbit, enjoy the journey—and don’t forget to snap your friends along the way. Your universe is what you make it!

Related articles worth reading:

• Snapchat Spotlight: How to Post, Go Viral, and Get Paid
• How to add music to your Snapchat story
• What is “My Eyes Only” in Snapchat and how to use it!