How to Know if Someone Has Snapchat Plus: Hidden Signs Revealed [2025]
Want to spot a Snapchat Plus user? The basic Snapchat app remains free, but several users choose to pay $3.99 monthly for premium features. Star badges, AI-generated backgrounds, and custom story expiration times are just some of the telltale signs that help identify a Snapchat+ subscriber.
Profile Indicators That Reveal Snapchat Plus Users
Want to spot someone with a Snapchat+ subscription? Their profile page shows several clear signs that are easy to notice. A quick look at someone’s profile reveals exclusive elements that show their premium membership status.
The exclusive star badge next to usernames
The most obvious sign is the black star badge that appears next to a user’s display name. This unique symbol quickly confirms that someone has subscribed to Snapchat+.
The star badge doesn’t show up right away. New subscribers need to turn it on since it’s off by default. Users can activate it from their profile by tapping their Snapchat+ membership card and switching on the “Snapchat+ Badge” option. Friends using an updated version of the app will see this black star inside a grayish-black circle.
AI-generated profile backgrounds with golden rings
Premium users can make their profiles stand out with AI-generated backgrounds. This feature lets them create custom profile displays by typing text prompts or picking from suggested ones. Subscribers can pick their favorite design from several AI-generated options to use as their profile background.
A “Best Friends” badge with a gold ring might catch your eye while checking someone’s profile.
This golden-ringed element shows up on Friendship Profiles and means the person uses the Friend Solar System feature – a Snapchat+ exclusive. The badge tells you which “planet” you are in their social orbit by showing your place among their eight closest friends.
Custom Bitmoji backgrounds only available to subscribers
Snapchat+ subscribers get access to special Bitmoji backgrounds that regular users can’t use. These backgrounds appear on their profile and Snap Map. Some backgrounds subtly display the Snapchat+ logo that lets subscribers show off their premium status.
The most eye-catching Snapchat+ exclusive Bitmoji background has a stunning gold backdrop with the Snapchat+ logo. Subscribers see these exclusive options marked with a ribbon icon in profile settings, while non-subscribers see a lock icon instead.
These visual indicators are becoming common in the app since more than 2.5 million users pay for the service. Knowing these signs makes it easy to spot someone who has invested in Snapchat’s premium features.
How to Tell if Someone Has Snapchat Plus Through Stories
Snapchat stories reveal more than just daily moments—they hold secret clues about who pays for premium features. Let’s break down how to know if someone has Snapchat Plus by looking at their story features. These story activities can tell you if someone’s a premium member.
Stories that last longer than 24 hours
Regular Snapchat stories vanish after 24 hours—that’s just how the platform works. But you might notice some people’s stories stick around by a lot longer. This clearly shows they’re Snapchat+ members.
Snapchat+ users can keep their stories visible up to one week instead of just 24 hours. This premium perk, called Custom Story Expiration, lets paid members show their special moments to friends much longer.
You can spot a Snapchat+ subscriber easily. The same story showing up in their feed for several days means they’re paying that $3.99 monthly subscription.
Story rewatch indicators visible to the poster
The Rewatch Indicator is a premium feature you won’t see directly. You’ll only know about it through conversations with Plus users.
Snapchat+ subscribers see a emoji under stories that friends have rewatched, plus a count of how many people came back to view it again. The number shows unique friends who rewatched, not the total times it was viewed.
Someone mentioning they know you rewatched their story (without naming you) definitely has
Snapchat+. The app values privacy, so even premium users only see numbers, not specific names of rewatchers.
Custom story expiration timeframes
Snapchat+ members get amazing control over how long their stories last. Regular users get stuck with 24 hours, but premium members can pick from these options:
- 1 hour (ultra-temporary)
- 6 hours
- 12 hours
- 24 hours (standard)
- 2 days
- 3 days
- 1 week (maximum duration)
This feature lets subscribes extend important cantent or make casual snaps disappear faster. People who talk about setting specific times for their stories or have posts lasting unusual periods likely have Snapchat+.
Plus subscribers get extra perks too. They receive alerts when specific friends first view their stories—a feature regular users don’t have. They can also boost private stories once per week to get more friend views quickly.
Chat Features That Expose Snapchat Plus Subscribers
Secret signs of Snapchat+ membership show up in private conversations beyond profiles and stories. Chat with friends reveals several exclusive features that show if someone has signed up for premium service. These chat indicators quietly reveal who has subscribed to Snapchat Plus.
Double snap replay capabilities
Snapchat+ subscribers can replay snaps twice instead of just once. Regular users get a single replay, but Plus members can see the same snap three times in total—one original view and two replays. This “Replay Again” feature works only if subscribers stay on the chat screen after viewing. The double-replay option goes away once they exit the chat. Someone with Snapchat+ benefits likely shows up if you see them replaying your snaps multiple times back-to-back.
Premium chat wallpapers with star badges
Snapchat+ subscribers can make their chats unique with exclusive wallpapers that free users can’t access. These premium wallpapers often have subtle star badges matching the Snapchat+ logo. Plus members can use their camera roll images as chat backgrounds and choose if the wallpaper looks blurred or clear. They also get access to AI-generated chat wallpapers that regular users can’t use.
Post View Emojis appearing after viewing snaps
Snapchat+ subscribers can set up a “Post View Emoji” that shows up right after friends look at their snaps. This emoji acts like a personal signature that stays the same for all their snaps. You might notice someone has Snapchat+ if you see a specific emoji pop up after viewing their snaps before the red box appears. Users can pick from many emoji options or turn this feature off completely.
Larger message fonts using chat effects
All users can change text size through device settings, but Snapchat+ subscribers get special chat effects with larger, bolder message fonts. These bigger text options help subscribers highlight important messages and add their personality to conversations. Premium users stand out with these text improvements along with their custom notification sounds and chat colors.
Advanced Snapchat Plus Features You Can Spot
Snapchat’s premium features aren’t obvious right away, but they leave clear signs of Plus membership once you know what to spot.
Ghost Trails showing friend movements on Snap Map
Ghost Trails stands out as one of the most unique Snapchat+ features you’ll notice. Blue path lines on Snap Map reveal where your friends have traveled in the last 24 hours – a clear sign they’re Plus subscribers. The feature works only under certain conditions. Your friend must share their location with you and live in a country where Snapchat+ exists.
They also need app version 11.85 or newer. This feature sparked major privacy concerns since it tracks users’ daily travel patterns. All the same, Plus members can turn off Ghost Trails in their settings if privacy matters to them.
Pinned friends at the top of chat lists
A chat that stays fixed at the top of someone’s list usually means they’ve used the “Best Friends Forever” feature – exclusive to Snapchat+. Plus subscribers can pick one person as their “#1 Best Friend” who stays pinned at the top of their friends list. The premium status becomes even more obvious when two Snapchat+ members pin each other as #1 BFFs. Both users see a special heart-fire emoji on their chat feed.
Half-swipe detection through Peek a Peek
Snapchat+ changed how secret message reading works. Before Plus, users could “half-swipe” to read messages without leaving a trace. Plus subscribers now detect this through “Peek a Peek.” The emoji appears next to their chat when someone peeks at their conversation. The feature shows the person’s Bitmoji at the screen’s edge if they peek while the chat is open. This works in both private and group chats.
Custom app icons on their device
Observant friends might notice Snapchat+ subscribers using custom app icons on their phone’s home screen. Standard users stick with the default ghost icon, but Plus members can pick from unique designs. These include tie-dye patterns, night-time beach scenes, and pixelated styles. A non-standard Snapchat icon proves someone has a premium subscription.
Conclusion
You can easily spot Snapchat+ users by looking for specific signs. Star badges, AI backgrounds, extended stories and Ghost Trails serve as clear indicators of premium subscribers. Note that these features help identify Plus members while respecting user privacy with certain tracking and visibility limits.
FAQs
Q1. How can I identify a Snapchat Plus user without seeing the star badge?
Look for exclusive features like custom Bitmoji backgrounds in chats, AI-generated profile backgrounds, or stories that last longer than 24 hours. These are strong indicators of a Snapchat+ subscription.
Q2. Can Snapchat Plus subscribers hide their premium status?
Yes, Snapchat+ users can hide their status. The star badge is off by default and can be toggled on or off in settings. Other premium features also need to be manually enabled, allowing subscribers to keep their status discreet if desired.
Q3. What are some unique chat features available to Snapchat Plus users?
Snapchat+ subscribers can replay snaps twice, use premium chat wallpapers with star badges, set post-view emojis that appear after friends view their snaps, and use larger message fonts with enhanced chat effects.
Q4. Are there any advanced Snapchat Plus features visible on Snap Map?
Yes, Ghost Trails is a distinctive Snapchat+ feature visible on Snap Map. It shows blue path lines indicating where a friend has traveled in the past 24 hours, but only if the subscriber has enabled location sharing.
Q5. How does Snapchat Plus affect story visibility and control?
Snapchat+ subscribers can extend their story duration up to one week, set custom expiration timeframes, and see how many friends have rewatched their stories. They can also receive notifications when specific friends view their stories and boost private stories for more views.