As Snapchat continues to grow and evolve, the introduction of Snapchat Plus—a premium subscription tier—has added new privacy features and exclusive tools for users. Because of the unique advantages that come with this upgraded version, many users are curious about whether their friends or contacts are using Snapchat Plus. While Snapchat does not publicly display a clear badge or marker for subscribers, there are still several ways to identify if someone is using the premium version of the app.
This article will walk you through the most reliable signs that someone might be using Snapchat Plus. Our aim is to help you understand the differences, so you can spot Snapchat Plus users with confidence.
What Is Snapchat Plus?
Snapchat Plus is a subscription-based service launched by Snapchat to give users exclusive access to experimental, pre-release features along with minor customization options and analytics tools. This subscription is aimed mostly at power users and those who want to personalize their Snapchat experience further.
Costs vary by country, but generally, Snapchat Plus is offered at a monthly fee with possible discounts for yearly commitments. The features change over time, but the current subscription includes benefits like:
- Custom app icons and themes
- The ability to pin a friend as a “#1 BFF”
- Insights on who rewatched your story
- Ghost Trails (location history of friends, with their consent)
- Friend Solar Systems, which ranks your friends in a planetary style
Signs That Someone Has Snapchat Plus
Although Snapchat does not reveal a person’s subscription status directly, there are certain features and behavioral cues you can observe to make an informed guess. Below are the main indicators to look for.
1. Friend Has a “Best Friend” Badge
One of the most obvious indicators is the use of the “Best Friend” or “#1 BFF” badge. Snapchat Plus allows subscribers to pin one of their contacts as their number one friend. If your name appears with a special emoji or star beside it – different from regular streak or emoji designations – it may signal that you’ve been pinned as their top friend through Snapchat Plus.
Even if your name isn’t pinned, ask if they can pin you or show their facial response when you talk about these features. Their knowledge or use of them is telling.
2. Story Rewatch Count
If someone mentions that they know how many times a story has been rewatched—or who rewatched it—there’s a strong chance they are using Snapchat Plus. This exclusive story insight is not available to basic-tier users.
Note that this feature behaves differently from the normal story view list, which only shows one-time viewers. Snapchat Plus unlocks additional engagement analytics.
3. Unique Snapchat Icons or Themes
Snapchat Plus allows users to customize the app icon on their home screen with several stylistic designs. If someone on your contact list has a unique Snapchat icon that deviates from the default white ghost on yellow background, they might be using Snapchat Plus.
This visual clue can be picked up if you see their phone or if they share a screenshot with an unfamiliar app logo.
4. Access to Ghost Trails
“Ghost Trails” is a location history feature exclusive to Snapchat Plus. If one of your friends talks about seeing where you’ve been recently—even if you didn’t save Snaps or updates from those places—that could strongly indicate Snapchat Plus usage.
This tool tracks a friend’s location over the past 24 hours. It’s only visible when you both have location-sharing enabled and the viewer has Snapchat Plus.
Important: Ghost Trails cannot be accessed if the target person has chosen to be in Ghost Mode or denied location access through system settings.
5. Friend Solar Systems
Snapchat Plus users get access to a fun but informative feature dubbed “Friend Solar Systems.” When you visit a friend’s profile, you may see a corresponding planet via Bitmoji reflecting your ranking in their friend group. Mercury, for instance, would mean you’re the closest pal, whereas Neptune may indicate a more distant friendship.
If someone shares images from this solar system or references their position in someone’s orbit, they’re definitely leveraging Snapchat Plus features.
6. Experimental Features Before Others
Snapchat Plus subscribers frequently get early access to experimental tools before they release to the public. If a friend uses new in-app gestures, camera filters, or profile enhancements that aren’t yet available on your app, they may be part of the early access Snapchat Plus program.
In many cases, feature rollouts to subscribers precede by weeks or even months, giving users a sneak peek of what’s coming to standard accounts later.
What Snapchat Plus Doesn’t Show Publicly
Despite all these features, Snapchat values user privacy and does not *publicly disclose* someone’s subscription status. There is no official Snapchat Plus logo, sticker, or label visible to anyone who isn’t directly using the account.
This means you must rely solely on behavioral signs and interface clues described above to make deductions. It’s also worth noting that some of these features can be toggled on or off, making them inconsistent signals at times.
Ethical Considerations
While curiosity is natural, it’s important to approach the question of someone’s Snapchat Plus status with sensitivity. Some users may subscribe for reasons unrelated to visibility—such as feature access, customization, or early testing—and may not wish to advertise that fact.
We recommend you never pressure someone to disclose their subscription or shame them for paying for extras. Just as people personalize their phones with wallpapers and widgets, Snapchat Plus is an extension of that individual choice.
How to Ask or Confirm If You’re Still Unsure
If you’re still uncertain, sometimes the best route is honest and respectful conversation. Try saying something like:
- “Hey, I saw you can pin best friends on Snapchat. Have you tried that?”
- “Have you noticed that new solar system thing on profiles? Is that just for Plus users?”
Such questions invite casual dialogue rather than suspicion, making it easier for the person to share information if they want to.
Conclusion
Snapchat Plus offers a range of exclusive features that can provide subtle, yet detectable, clues about whether someone is a paying subscriber. While none of these signs are foolproof individually, combining several indicators can give you a solid basis for an educated guess.
If you observe unique Snapchat icons, mentions of story rewatching, or see custom tools like Ghost Trails or Bitmoji solar systems, there’s a good chance the user is enjoying the perks of Snapchat Plus.
Ultimately, as Snapchat continues adding new features, users’ awareness and curiosity will only grow. Keeping informed about what distinguishes Snapchat Plus is not only interesting but also a great way to understand how people are tailoring their social media experiences.