How To Check If Someone Has Snapchat Premium: Identifying Snapchat+ Subscribers And Exclusive Features

To identify if a user has Snapchat Premium (officially known as Snapchat+), look for the distinctive black star badge next to their display name or check for exclusive profile enhancements such as custom Bitmoji backgrounds and unique "Post-View Emoji" reactions. While many subscribers utilize the "Snapchat+ Badge" toggle to remain discreet, analyzing their interaction metadata—including "Friend Solar System" status and priority story placement—reveals their subscription status with high accuracy.

Subscriber Reconnaissance and Essential Discovery Requirements

Before attempting to verify a user's subscription status, it is vital to understand that "Snapchat Premium" is technically marketed as "Snapchat+," a paid subscription tier that grants users early access to experimental features and aesthetic customizations. Identifying these users requires a functioning Snapchat account and the most current version of the application to ensure that the UI metadata for premium features is visible on your device.

Mandatory Prerequisite Knowledge and Equipment:

• Application Version: Ensure your Snapchat app is updated to the latest version via the iOS App Store or Google Play Store. Outdated versions often fail to render the Snapchat+ badge or custom profile decorations.
• Account Standing: You must have an active Snapchat account; you cannot verify subscription status via a web browser without being logged in to the mobile interface.
• Regional Availability: Snapchat+ is available in dozens of countries (including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia), but features may vary slightly by region.
• Standard Subscription Costs: Most users pay $3.99 USD per month or approximately $29.99 USD annually, which funds the exclusive icons and badges you are looking for.
• Verification Timeline: Expect the verification process to take between 30 seconds and 2 minutes per profile.

Five-Step Workflow for Identifying Snapchat+ Subscribers

Step 1: Scanning for the Snapchat+ Subscription Badge

The most direct method to verify a premium account is locating the Snapchat+ badge. This is a small, white star centered within a black circular background.

1. Open the Snapchat application and navigate to the "Chat" screen by swiping right from the camera interface.
2. Locate the individual in your chat list or use the search bar to find their profile.
3. Tap on their Bitmoji or profile icon to open their "Friend Profile."
4. Examine the area immediately following their display name. If a black circle with a white star is visible, the user is an active Snapchat+ subscriber.

Pro-Tip: Many users hide this badge to maintain privacy. If the badge is absent, proceed to the following steps to look for "indirect" indicators of a premium subscription.

Step 2: Evaluating Bitmoji Backgrounds and Profile Decorations

Snapchat+ subscribers gain access to exclusive Bitmoji backgrounds and "Profile Frames" that are not available to the general user base. These are often high-contrast, animated, or feature elaborate patterns.

1. Open the user's Friend Profile.
2. Observe the background behind their 3D Bitmoji avatar. Standard users are limited to a basic selection of colors and patterns. Premium users can access "Exclusive Bitmoji Backgrounds," which often include gold-leaf designs, high-definition landscapes, or sparkling effects.
3. Check for "Pet Appearances" or "Bitmoji Poses" that seem unique or unconventional, as these are often unlocked through the premium tier.

Step 3: Deciphering the Friend Solar System and Best Friend Rankings

One of the most technically revealing features of Snapchat+ is the "Friend Solar System." This feature allows subscribers to see where they stand in their friends' "Best Friends" list.

1. Navigate to the profile of the person you suspect has Snapchat+.
2. Look for a "Best Friends" or "Friends" badge that, when tapped, shows a planet icon.
3. If you see an icon representing a planet (e.g., Mars, Venus, or Jupiter) near your name on their profile, they are a subscriber.
4. This works because the "Solar System" UI is a premium-only feature. If the system is active and showing you your "Planetary" rank relative to them, they must be paying for the service.

Warning: You can only see the Solar System if both users are "Best Friends" (interact frequently). If you are not in their top eight contacts, this indicator may remain hidden.

Step 4: Monitoring Post-View Emoji and Priority Story Replies

Snapchat+ allows users to set a "Post-View Emoji" that automatically appears after you watch a Snap they sent you.

1. Wait for the suspect user to send you a direct Snap.
2. Open and view the Snap in its entirety.
3. Immediately after the Snap closes, look at your chat list. If a specific emoji (of their choosing) appears next to their name instantly—separate from the standard "Received" icon—they are using the Snapchat+ Post-View Emoji feature.
4. Additionally, if you are a public figure or have a high follower count, check your Story replies. Snapchat+ users have "Priority Story Replies," which often causes their comments to appear higher in your notification queue or with a subtle highlighting.

Step 5: Detecting Custom App Icons and Ghost Trails

While more difficult to spot unless you are looking at their physical phone screen, "Ghost Trails" provide a metadata-based hint of premium status.

1. If the user has shared their location with you on the Snap Map, look at their movement over the last 24 hours.
2. Standard users only show their current location. Snapchat+ users have access to "Ghost Trails," which show a blurred line of their travel path.
3. If you can see where a friend has been throughout the day (the "trail" behind their Bitmoji on the map), they are a premium subscriber.

Comparison of Snapchat+ Visibility Markers and Tiered Functionality

The following table outlines the technical differences between a standard account and a Snapchat+ account, specifically focusing on the markers you can use for identification.

Resolving Missing Indicators and Visibility Discrepancies

Sometimes, a user may be a Snapchat+ subscriber, but the usual indicators are missing. This is often due to privacy settings or technical synchronization errors.

• Scenario: The "Snapchat+ Badge" is missing, but they use custom backgrounds.

  
  
  
  • Root Cause: The user has manually disabled the "Snapchat+ Badge" in their settings to appear as a standard user while keeping other perks.
  • Actionable Fix: Look for secondary indicators like "Ghost Trails" on the Snap Map or the "Post-View Emoji" in your chat feed, as these are harder to mask simultaneously.

• Scenario: You cannot see their "Solar System" or "Planetary" rank.

  
  
  
  • Root Cause: The "Friend Solar System" requires both users to be "Best Friends" (appearing in each other's top 8 most interacted with accounts).
  • Actionable Fix: Increase interaction frequency by sending more direct Snaps and Chats to unlock the mutual "Best Friend" status required for the planetary UI to render.

• Scenario: The user claims to have Premium, but no features are visible on your end.

  
  
  
  • Root Cause: Your local application cache may be outdated, or the user is located in a region where certain features (like Ghost Trails) are legally restricted.
  • Actionable Fix: Clear your Snapchat cache by going to Settings > Account Actions > Clear Cache, then restart the application to force a refresh of friend metadata.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see if someone has Snapchat+ if I am blocked or unfriended?

No. To see the majority of Snapchat+ indicators, such as Bitmoji backgrounds, the subscription badge, or Ghost Trails, you must be on the user's friends list. If you are blocked, you cannot access their profile metadata or view their presence on the Snap Map.

Does the "Snapchat+ Badge" appear automatically for all subscribers?

By default, the badge is enabled upon subscription. However, users can navigate to the Snapchat+ management settings and toggle the badge off. Therefore, the absence of a badge does not definitively prove a user is not a subscriber.

Is "Snapchat Premium" the same as the Snapchat+ subscription?

Technically, no. "Snapchat+" is the official paid tier offered by Snap Inc. The term "Snapchat Premium" is often a colloquialism used to describe private stories or third-party content monetization, which are not official platform features and do not include the star badge or solar system.

Can someone tell if I am checking their profile for the Snapchat+ badge?

No, Snapchat does not send notifications when you view a friend's profile page. They will only be notified if you capture a screenshot of their profile or view their posted Stories.

How do I know which planet I am in their Solar System?

If they are a subscriber and you are one of their top eight friends, a "Best Friends" badge will appear on their profile. Tapping this badge reveals a planet. Mercury is the 1st closest friend, Venus is 2nd, Earth is 3rd, and so on, following the standard order of the solar system.

Optimize Your Snapchat Experience

Understanding these premium markers allows you to better navigate the social hierarchy and technical features of the platform. If you want to access these exclusive badges and tracking tools yourself, navigate to your profile and tap the Snapchat+ banner to begin your subscription.