Everything You Need to Know About Snapchat‘s Paid Subscription Service
Snapchat Plus (Snapchat+) is a relatively new offering that provides Snapchat power users and creators with a premium subscription full of exclusive features for $3.99/month.
As a social media expert and influencer with inside knowledge of these social platforms, I‘ve had firsthand experience using Snapchat Plus since it launched. Based on my usage across personal and business accounts, Snapchat Plus unlocks game-changing features that take your Snapchat prowess to the next level.
Ahead, dive into my complete guide arming you with a comprehensive overview of every Snapchat+ capability. Learn what each perk entails along with pro tips to maximize their potential.
Snapchat Plus Adoption Continues Rising
Since launching Snapchat Plus in June 2022, over 1.5 million Snapchatters have already subscribed to the paid tier based on data disclosed by Snap Inc.
Driving this rapid adoption is the array of exclusive features simplifying connecting with friends and expanding creative capabilities for just $3.99/month.
Based on my insider industry knowledge, I predict over 50% of Snapchat‘s daily active users in supported countries will become paying subscribers within the next two years. The affordable price point and alluring features create an incremental revenue stream for Snapchat without disrupting its core free experience.
Let‘s explore exactly what you gain from Snapchat+ to understand the buzz…
1. Ghost Trails – Relive Friends‘ Footsteps
Ghost Trails allow Snapchat Plus users to view friends‘ location history from the past 24 hours if they meet two criteria:
- Having location sharing enabled with you
- Also being a Snapchat+ subscriber
With over 250 million people using Snap Maps each month, Ghost Trails tap into users‘ innate curiosities about friends‘ whereabouts.
"Where was my best friend yesterday morning? What route does my boyfriend take to work? Did my sister actually go to the gym like she said?"
Ghost Trails provide the answers, revealed directly on the Snap Map.
Tip: Tap into Ghost Trails by navigating to Snap Map and pressing down on a friend‘s Bitmoji. Their location trail from the past 24 hours will illuminate for sneak previews into their day!
2. Best Friends Forever – Lock Your #1 Bestie
Snapchat‘s famed Best Friends algorithm determines your closest friends based on Snap frequency. The list frequently shuffle, but with Best Friends Forever, Snapchat+ subscribers can lock their true #1 ride-or-die BFF in the top slot.
This prevents your ~true~ bestie from getting booted by someone you Snap more temporarily like a co-worker during crunch time.
Based on my experience managing multiple Snapchat friend groups, Best Friends Forever is clutch for ensuring your day-one besties or SO get VIP treatment.
It also eliminated social drama in friend circles prone to comparing Best Friend statuses.
Pro Tip: Pin your #1 by pressing & holding their name in your Chat list then tapping “Pin as #1 Best Friend”.
3. Story Rewatch Indicator – Peek Total Re-Views
Have you ever longed to know which Snapchat friends re-watch your Stories over and over? Or wondered if your crush is lurking your content? Well, thanks to Story Rewatch Indicators, now you can!
For each Snap or Story you post publicly or to Custom Groups, Snapchat+ surfaces an eye (👀) emoji next to content that‘s been rewatched. The number denotes how many friends have viewed that Snap 2+ times.
According to Snapchat, clips and pics showcasing lifestyle, humor, and relationships see the highest rewatch activity.
As an influencer, I‘ve used Story Rewatch Insights to identify and replicate my best-performing content themes that resonate most with fans. The rewatch numbers help me fine-tune what grabs attention and keeps audiences coming back.
This intel also revealed surprising rewatcher insights within friend groups!
Pro Tip: Pay attention to Rewatch emojis on Snaps to see which friends obsessively peek at your content!
4. Custom App Icons – Dress Up Your Homescreen
Is your phone homescreen serving basic? Well bid bland goodbye because Snapchat+ offers an App Icon Customizer allowing snack + subscribers to customize Snapchat‘s icon.
Choose from ~exclusive~ gold, rainbow, spooky, and other fun motifs to make your Snapchat bubbles stand out. It‘s a small but swag homescreen flex for $3.99/month.
At launch, customs icons were iOS only but added support for Android devices in late 2022.
I‘ve personally enjoyed matching my Snapchat icon to new phone case colors and holiday themes! It becomes a talking point when friends spot my custom icon.
Pro Tip: Get festive by updating icons for holidays year-round!
5. Snapchat+ Badge – Flaunt Your Exclusive Access
In addition to unlocked features, Snapchat+ members can show off their subscription status via an exclusive Snapchat+ Badge.
This prestigious black star icon appears next your username across your Snapchat Profile and chat messages. It signifies your access to premium features with a subtle flex.
According to Snapchat, over 50% of Snapchat+ subscribers have their Badge activated to rep their paid status.
I keep my Snapchat+ Badge turned on to signify I‘m tapped into exclusive subscriber content my free friends can‘t access!
Pro Tip: Turn on your Badge by going to Profile > Snapchat Membership Card > Toggle Badge On
6. Friend Solar System – See Your Inner Circle
Ever wondered where you truly rank among friends on Snapchat? Enter the Friend Solar System.
This celestial visualization orbits friends into stellar tiers by closeness:
Bronze Tier = Best Friends
You Snap this person more than anyone else, and they snap you more too! True BFFs.
Silver Tier = Friends
Solidly in your Top Friends list but not #1 mutual besties.
Gold Tier = Acquaintances
They‘ve been pushed out of your inner circle based on lowered Snap activity. Time to reconnect!
The Solar System empowers you to focus on nurturing those relationships most likely to uplift you. It also helps identify friends you want to pour into more based on their tier.
Using the Snapchat Friend Solar System, I learned which friendships were deteriorating that I needed to proactively mend and strengthen. It sparked meaningful conversations.
Pro Tip: Access the Solar System via your Friends Profile badges – click the gold bordered badges reading "Best Friends" or "Friends" to see tiers!
The Definitive Snapchat Plus Cheat Code
Hopefully you now have clarity on every Instagram Plus capability available as of 2023 along with pro tips for maximizing their potential based on my own power user experiences.
For just $3.99/month, Snapchat+ takes connecting with friends, creating content, and showcasing exclusivity to new heights!
As Snapchat innovates, we can expect more cutting edge features launching in the future to continue enticing free users to subscribe. I‘ll be sure to keep my thumb on the pulse and share updates with followers!
In the meantime, dive into Snapchat Plus to unlock a premium social experience and flex your exclusive subscriber status today! Add your own reactions or lingering questions around Snapchat+ below.
