Snapchat has quietly become one of the most feature-rich messaging apps around, and a lot of that growth traces back to its premium subscription tier. If you have ever opened a friend’s profile and noticed something slightly different about their app, you might have wondered: how do you know if someone has Snapchat Plus? It’s a fair question, because Snapchat doesn’t exactly shout about who is subscribed and who isn’t. There’s no giant badge that says “Premium Member” plastered across someone’s profile picture. Instead, the platform sprinkles in small visual cues and functional perks that, once you know what to look for, become pretty easy to spot.
This article walks through every reliable method for identifying a Snapchat Plus subscriber, explains what the subscription actually offers, and clears up some common misconceptions people have about the feature. Whether you’re curious about a friend, a crush, or just want to understand the app better before deciding whether to subscribe yourself, you’ll find everything you need right here.
Add a Quick Answer Box (Featured Snippet)
If you’re wondering how do you know if someone has Snapchat Plus, the easiest way is to look for the Snapchat+ badge (golden star) next to their profile. However, users can choose to hide this badge, so other clues like exclusive features, custom icons, and profile customization may also indicate a Snapchat+ subscription.
| Free Snapchat | Snapchat Plus |
|---|---|
| Standard features | Premium features |
| No custom app icons | Custom app icons available |
| No Friend Solar System | Friend Solar System included |
| No Story Rewatch Indicator | Story Rewatch Indicator available |
| Default profile customization | Exclusive profile customization |
What Exactly Is Snapchat Plus?
Before diving into detection methods, it helps to understand what Snapchat Plus actually is. Launched as Snapchat’s answer to premium subscription models used by other social platforms, Snapchat Plus is a paid tier that unlocks exclusive features not available to free users. For a small monthly fee, subscribers get access to things like custom app icons, priority story viewing, extended friend lists, and a handful of experimental tools that Snapchat tests before rolling them out more broadly.
The subscription isn’t just about aesthetics either. It changes how certain interactions appear within chats and profiles, which is exactly why people start asking how do you know if someone has Snapchat Plus in the first place. The visual differences are subtle by design, but they are there, and once you train your eye to notice them, you’ll spot subscribers almost instantly.
Can Someone Hide Snapchat Plus?
Yes. Snapchat allows subscribers to hide the Snapchat+ badge from their profile. This means you may not always see the gold star even if someone has a subscription. In such cases, you should look for other signs like exclusive customization features or Snapchat+ tools they mention.
The Golden Star Next to Their Name
The single most reliable indicator of a Snapchat Plus subscription is the golden star icon that appears next to a user’s name. When someone subscribes to Snapchat Plus, a small star badge shows up beside their display name in various places throughout the app, including chat windows, the friends list, and sometimes their profile page.
This star isn’t decorative fluff added randomly. It’s Snapchat’s official way of signaling premium status, similar to verification badges used on other platforms. If you’re chatting with someone and notice this golden star sitting right next to their name, that’s about as clear a confirmation as you’ll get. This single visual cue answers the question of how do you know if someone has Snapchat Plus more directly than almost any other method on this list.
Keep in mind that the star can occasionally be missed if you’re not paying close attention, especially in a busy chat list with many conversations happening at once. Slow down, look carefully at the name field, and the star will usually reveal itself.
Checking the Friend’s Profile Page
Another dependable way to confirm Plus status is by visiting the person’s profile directly. Tap on their name or Bitmoji to open their profile page, and look near the top where their username is displayed. Subscribers often show the golden star here as well, reinforcing what you might have already noticed in the chat window.
Profile pages also sometimes reveal custom Bitmoji backgrounds or unique app icons that are exclusive to Plus members, though these are optional customizations and not every subscriber uses them. Still, if you’re trying to figure out how do you know if someone has Snapchat Plus, checking their profile page is a solid second step after spotting the star in chat.
Priority Story Placement
Snapchat Plus subscribers often get their stories placed higher up in the story feed compared to non-subscribers, particularly if you have marked them as a “Best Friend” or interact with them frequently. While this isn’t a foolproof signal on its own since Snapchat’s algorithm already prioritizes close friends, it can serve as a secondary clue when combined with the golden star.
If you notice a friend’s story consistently appearing near the top of your feed even though you don’t interact with them that often, it might be worth checking their chat or profile for the star icon to confirm their subscription status.
The “Friend Solar System” Feature
One of the more talked-about Snapchat Plus perks is the Friend Solar System, sometimes called Friendship Profiles or Compatibility features depending on the app version. This tool shows a visual representation of your closeness with a friend, using orbiting icons and rankings that only Plus subscribers can access.
If a friend mentions seeing detailed compatibility scores, orbit rankings, or friendship insights that you don’t have access to on your own free account, that’s a strong hint they’re subscribed. While you can’t directly see their solar system data unless they choose to share a screenshot, the mere mention of these features is a practical way of figuring out how do you know if someone has Snapchat Plus without needing to ask them outright.
Custom App Icons and Chat Wallpapers
Plus subscribers can change their Snapchat app icon to one of several exclusive designs, something free users simply cannot do. If a friend shows you their home screen and their Snapchat icon looks different from the standard yellow ghost logo, that’s a dead giveaway they’ve paid for the premium tier.
Similarly, subscribers can customize chat wallpapers and backgrounds in ways that free accounts can’t replicate. If you open a chat and notice an unusual background pattern or theme that doesn’t match the default Snapchat aesthetic, it strongly suggests the other person has access to premium customization tools.
Viewing Notifications for Story Rewatches
Snapchat Plus includes a feature that notifies subscribers when someone rewatches their story multiple times. This is purely a benefit for the subscriber themselves and isn’t something you can observe from the outside, but it does mean that Plus users often behave a bit differently. For instance, a subscriber might mention knowing you rewatched their story several times, information that free users simply don’t have access to.
If a friend casually reveals they know exactly how many times you viewed their story, or mentions unusual detail about your viewing habits, this is a subtle but telling sign of their subscription status.
Checking For the “Notify When They’re Back Online” Feature
Another perk exclusive to Plus subscribers is the ability to set notifications for when a specific friend becomes active on the app again. While you won’t directly see evidence of this feature from outside their account, subscribers sometimes mention receiving these notifications, which only works if they’ve paid for the premium tier.
If you’re specifically wondering how do you know if someone has Snapchat Plus and they mention getting notified the moment you open the app, that’s essentially confirmation, since this functionality doesn’t exist for free accounts.
Asking Them Directly
This might sound obvious, but sometimes the simplest approach works best. If you’re genuinely curious and comfortable enough with the person, just ask them. Many Snapchat Plus subscribers are happy to talk about the features they enjoy, especially if they’ve found particular perks useful. There’s no shame associated with the subscription, and most people won’t mind confirming it if asked casually.
Of course, this method requires a level of familiarity that not everyone has with the person they’re curious about, which is why the visual cues mentioned earlier remain the most practical solution for most situations.
Why People Want to Know This Information
It’s worth pausing to consider why this question comes up so often. Curiosity about someone’s subscription status usually stems from a few different motivations. Some people want to know because they’re considering subscribing themselves and want to see how friends who already have it use the features. Others are simply nosy in a harmless way, wanting to understand more about the people they interact with daily.
There’s also a practical angle: knowing whether someone has Snapchat Plus can help you understand certain behaviors that might otherwise seem confusing, like why their stories always appear at the top of your feed or why their profile looks slightly different from everyone else’s. Understanding how do you know if someone has Snapchat Plus essentially gives you better context for interpreting the app’s social dynamics.
Common Misconceptions About Snapchat Plus Detection
There are a few myths floating around that deserve clearing up. First, having a large number of friends or a high Snapchat score does not indicate Plus subscription. Those metrics are unrelated to the premium tier entirely and existed long before Snapchat Plus launched.
Second, streak emojis and special icons next to your Snapchat score are not related to Plus subscription either. These icons represent your interaction history with friends and are available to every user regardless of subscription status.
Third, some people assume that a verified checkmark on a public figure’s account means they have Snapchat Plus. In reality, verification badges for celebrities and public figures are a completely separate system from the golden star used to denote Plus subscribers.
Understanding these distinctions matters because it prevents confusion when trying to determine subscription status. If you’re relying on the wrong indicators, you’ll end up with an inaccurate picture of who actually has the premium tier.
What Snapchat Plus Actually Costs
For context, Snapchat Plus is priced as an affordable monthly subscription, generally cheaper than comparable premium tiers offered by other social platforms. Pricing can vary slightly depending on your region and whether you opt for a monthly or annual plan, with annual subscriptions typically offering a modest discount compared to paying month by month.
Knowing the price point helps explain why the subscription has grown so popular. It’s accessible enough that casual users don’t think twice about signing up if a particular feature catches their interest, which is part of why you’ll increasingly notice the golden star appearing across your friend list.
Is It Worth Subscribing Yourself?
If you’ve been searching for how do you know if someone has Snapchat Plus because you’re curious about whether to get it yourself, it’s worth weighing the features against your actual usage habits. Heavy Snapchat users who rely on stories, chat customization, and friendship tracking tools tend to get the most value out of the subscription. Casual users who only open the app occasionally might not notice enough benefit to justify the recurring cost.
Consider trying it for a single month first. Since the subscription doesn’t lock you into a long-term contract, you can cancel anytime if you decide the features aren’t essential to your daily use of the app.
A Quick Recap of Detection Methods
To summarize everything covered, here are the most reliable signals for spotting a Snapchat Plus subscriber:
The golden star badge next to their name in chats and on their profile remains the single clearest indicator. Custom app icons visible on their home screen are another strong sign. Unusual chat wallpapers or profile customizations that don’t match Snapchat’s default options suggest premium access. Story placement that seems unusually high given your interaction frequency can serve as a supporting clue. Mentions of features like the Friend Solar System, rewatch notifications, or “back online” alerts confirm subscription status since these tools don’t exist for free accounts. And when all else fails, simply asking the person directly usually gets you a straightforward answer.
Each of these methods on its own provides a reasonably strong signal, but combining two or three of them gives you near-certain confirmation of someone’s subscription status.
Final Thoughts
Figuring out how do you know if someone has Snapchat Plus doesn’t require any special tools or hacks. Snapchat has built subtle but consistent visual markers into the app that make premium subscribers identifiable if you know where to look. The golden star remains the most dependable clue, supported by custom icons, unique chat wallpapers, and exclusive features that only Plus users can access.
Rather than guessing or assuming based on unrelated factors like friend count or Snapchat score, focus on the specific indicators outlined throughout this article. With a bit of attention to detail, spotting a Snapchat Plus subscriber becomes second nature, and you’ll never have to wonder again the next time you notice something slightly different about a friend’s profile.
