You’re staring at a tiny gold ring around a Bitmoji. It’s confusing. You know you talk to this person every day, but for some reason, they’re Neptune and you were hoping for Mercury. This is the reality of the Snapchat best friends list planet system, a feature that has sparked more digital anxiety and friendship "investigations" than almost any other update in the app’s history. It’s a literal solar system of social hierarchy.
Snapchat didn't just give us a list; they gave us an orbital ranking.
If you have Snapchat+, you've seen these. It’s a gamified way of looking at your inner circle. But honestly, it’s also a recipe for overthinking. Why am I their fourth best friend when they’re my first? Does being Mars mean we’re drifting apart? Most people get the order wrong because the math behind the scenes isn't just about how many selfies you send. It’s about the reciprocity.
Deciphering the Snapchat Best Friends List Planet Order
Basically, the system assigns a planet to your friends based on how close you are to them relative to everyone else they talk to. It’s a two-way street that feels more like a high school cafeteria seating chart.
Mercury is the top spot. If you see yourself as Mercury on someone’s profile, you are their #1 Best Friend. You’re the sun they orbit. After that, it follows the actual order of our solar system. Venus is second. Earth is third. Mars is fourth.
It keeps going.
Jupiter comes in at fifth, followed by Saturn, Uranus, and finally Neptune at eighth. If you’re Neptune, you’re on the list, but you’re barely in the neighborhood. You're the chilly, distant friend who probably gets a mass snap once a day but isn't the first person they message when they have tea to spill.
Why the order matters (and why it doesn't)
Here is the kicker. This ranking is private. You can only see where you stand on their solar system. You can’t go snooping on your crush’s profile to see who their Mercury is. Well, you can try, but the app won’t show you. It only shows you your own position in their universe.
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This creates a weird dynamic.
You might see that a friend is your Mercury. You send them everything. But when you check your standing in their world, you’re Mars. That means while they are your #1, you are only their #4. Ouch. It’s a blunt, mathematical look at social priority that sometimes we’re better off not knowing.
The Math Behind the Orbit
Snapchat is notoriously vague about the exact "score" needed to move from Venus to Mercury. However, we know it’s based on a rolling period of activity. It isn't just a lifetime achievement award. If you stop talking to someone for a week, your "gravity" pulls you further away.
The Snapchat best friends list planet system relies on the Chat Score.
Every snap sent, every video shared, and every chat message counts. But snaps carry more weight. If you’re just texting in the app, your score moves slower than if you’re sending full-screen face snaps. The system rewards "visual" communication because that’s the core of the platform’s identity.
- Mercury: Red planet with hearts. You’re the bestie.
- Venus: Brown planet. You’re very close.
- Earth: Blue and green. You’re in the top three.
- Mars: Red planet (the other one). You’re a frequent flyer.
- Jupiter: Orange with stripes.
- Saturn: Yellow with rings.
- Uranus: Greenish-blue.
- Neptune: Dark blue and distant.
Interestingly, many users report that the "Friend Solar System" doesn't update instantly. You might go on a 50-snap streak with someone today and still be Saturn tomorrow. The algorithm takes a bit to "re-calculate" the orbits. Usually, a 24 to 48-hour window is required for the system to recognize the shift in your social dynamics.
Privacy Concerns and the "Opt-Out" Era
When this feature first launched, it was a default part of the Snapchat+ experience. People hated it. Or, more accurately, people loved to hate it until it caused a fight with their significant other.
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"Why is your ex-girlfriend your Mercury?"
That question ruined enough nights that Snap Inc. actually had to pivot. In early 2024, they made the solar system an "opt-in" feature. Now, if you want to see your standing or have others see theirs in relation to you, you have to choose to see it. It’s a bit of a "look at your own risk" situation.
The Psychology of the Rank
We have to talk about the dopamine hit. Getting that Mercury badge feels like an accomplishment. It’s a digital validation of a real-world bond. But there’s a dark side. Research into social media behavior often points to these types of ranking systems as "quantified friendship." When we turn relationships into numbers or planets, we start performing for the algorithm rather than the person.
I've seen people send "blank" snaps just to maintain a spot on a list. That’s not communication; it’s maintenance.
How to Move Up the List
If you’re determined to reach Mercury status, you have to be consistent. It’s not about one giant blast of messages. It’s about the "Snap Ratio."
To climb the Snapchat best friends list planet rankings, you need to be the person they interact with more than anyone else. If your friend has a high total snap score, they likely talk to dozens of people. To be their Mercury, you have to out-pace all those other people. If they only talk to three people, becoming Mercury is easy. If they’re a power user? Good luck. You’ll need to be sending and receiving snaps constantly.
- Priority: Send more direct snaps than group messages. Group chats don't count toward individual planet rankings in the same way.
- Reciprocity: They have to snap you back. If you send 100 snaps and they send 1, your "gravity" remains weak.
- Media Types: Mix it up. Use video snaps and photos.
Common Misconceptions
People often confuse the "Friend Emoji" with the "Planet System." They are different. Friend emojis (like the yellow heart, the red heart, or the "smirk" face) are available to everyone. The solar system is strictly a Snapchat+ perk.
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Another big myth: deleting a conversation resets your rank. It doesn't. Your score and your "standing" are stored on Snap’s servers, not your local phone cache. Clearing a chat might hide the evidence from your screen, but the "Sun" still knows who is orbiting closest.
Also, being someone’s "Super BFF" (the two pink hearts) usually guarantees you a Mercury spot, but it’s not 100% synonymous. The hearts represent time (two months of being #1), while the planets represent current, real-time volume.
Troubleshooting Your Orbit
Is your Snapchat best friends list planet not showing up? There are a few reasons why. First, you need an active Snapchat+ subscription. It’s a paid tier. Second, the other person needs to be on your Best Friends list. If they aren't in your top eight, no planet will appear because there is no orbit to track.
Lastly, check your settings. Since the privacy update, many people accidentally turned off the "Solar System" toggle. You can find this in your Snapchat+ management settings. If it's off, you won't see the "Best Friends" or "Friends" badge on profiles, even if you’re paying for the service.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to use this feature to actually improve your digital life rather than just stress about it, here is how to handle it:
- Check your privacy settings: Decide if you actually want to see where you rank. If it causes you stress, turn the Solar System feature off in your Snapchat+ menu.
- Focus on the "Top Three": If you’re Earth, Venus, or Mercury, you’re in the inner circle. The mathematical difference between those three is often negligible.
- Audit your "Neptunes": If someone is your Neptune, but you thought you were close, maybe use it as a prompt to reach out more—or realize you’re putting in more effort than they are.
- Ignore the "Ghost" Orbits: Don't try to calculate someone else's list based on your own. The math is individualized.
The planet system is a tool, not a verdict on your character. Use it to see who you're actually spending time with, then put the phone down and go talk to them in person. That's the only "ranking" that actually lasts.