Alexis Kestler
Hey there! Have you ever wondered what that number is under your name on your Snapchat profile? That‘s your Snap score, a metric that represents your activity on Snapchat.
Scores have become a fascination for many Snapchatters. But how exactly do they work? As a tech geek and social media expert, I‘ve dug into Snapchat‘s scoring system and have the inside scoop for you.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll uncover everything about Snap scores including:
- What Snap score is
- Why Snap scores matter
- How your score is calculated
- How much your score increases per snap
- How to view friends‘ scores
- Tips for increasing your score
- FAQs about Snapchat score
Let‘s dive in!
What is Snap Score?
Your Snapchat score is a running total of your Snapchat activity. It‘s displayed prominently under your username on your profile.
This score goes up as you use Snapchat, acting as a metric of your usage and engagement with the app.
Snapchat has never revealed the exact formula used for tabulating scores. But the score does act as a rough indicator of how active you are on Snapchat.
Higher scores imply that you use Snapchat more often and engage more with content and connections on the platform.
Why Do Snapchat Scores Matter?
Good question! Snapchat itself doesn‘t reveal any particular benefits of having a higher score. You don‘t unlock anything special.
But scores have taken on an importance for some Snapchat users for a few key reasons:
Bragging Rights
For some people, having a high Snapchat score is a point of pride. It signals they use the app a lot and have built up substantial Snapchat activity.
Scores have become a way to quantify your connections and engagement on the app. And just like having lots of followers, some view having a high score as a brag-worthy achievement.
Believed Algorithm Benefits
While unconfirmed by Snapchat, rumors abound that having a higher Snapchat score can boost your presence in the algorithm that determines which snaps and stories are shown to others.
The theory is that more active users with higher scores are favored by the Snapchat algorithm, making their content more visible.
Again this is unproven. But the perception remains that boosting your score can boost your Snapchat presence.
Social Signaling
Lastly, scores provide social signaling about someone‘s investment in Snapchat. A higher score can indicate that someone engages frequently with their Snapchat community.
A high score signals activity, commitment to maintaining streaks, and potentially larger social circles on Snapchat. Just like followers and friends on other platforms, some interpret a high score as a signal of popularity.
While Snapchat officially downplays the importance of scores, these factors have driven score into a hot topic among Snapchatters. Some even compete to see who can get their score the highest!
Next let‘s look at how Snapchat calculates these coveted points.
How is Snapchat Score Calculated?
Snapchat has never revealed the exact formula used to calculate scores. But clever Snapchatters have reverse engineered the approximate scoring system based on extensive testing and experience.
Here are the key actions we know can increase your Snapchat score:
Sending Snaps
The #1 action that increases your score is sending snaps. You gain one point for every snap you send to friends. This includes:
- Picture snaps
- Video snaps
- Snaps with filters, lenses, stickers, etc.
- Individual snaps sent to friends
- Group snaps sent to multiple friends
Notably, sending the same snap to multiple people results in multiple points. If you send one snap to 10 friends, your score goes up by 10.
Based on available data from Snapchat users, sending snaps is by far the biggest factor that drives up your score.
| Action | Score Increase |
|---|---|
| Send a snap to 1 friend | +1 point |
| Send a snap to 10 friends | +10 points |
Receiving Snaps
You also gain a point each time you receive a snap. So 10 friends send you snaps, your score will go up 10 points.
The more snaps you get from friends, the more your score increases. Make sure to always open snaps you receive for the points!
| Action | Score Increase |
|---|---|
| Receive 1 snap | +1 point |
| Receive 10 snaps | +10 points |
Snapping Streaks
Maintaining Snapstreaks with your friends provides a steady source of points too.
You gain at least 1 point for each friend you have an ongoing Snapstreak with. Keep streaks alive by continuing to snap back and forth with each friend.
Having many streaks that you maintain daily results in a nice continual flow of points.
| Action | Score Increase |
|---|---|
| Maintain 1 Snapstreak | +1 point |
| Maintain 5 Snapstreaks | +5 points |
Posting Stories
When you post to your Snapchat Story, your score goes up a few points as well.
It’s estimated that you gain around 1-2 points per Story post. Posting Stories regularly helps rack up points over time.
| Action | Score Increase |
|---|---|
| Post 1 Story | +1-2 points |
| Post 5 Stories | +5-10 points |
Adding Friends
Adding new friends used to give your score a boost when Snapchat first introduced scoring.
It’s unclear if this still applies. But expanding your friend network certainly won’t hurt your engagement and opportunities to send more snaps.
Returning to Snapchat
If you take a break from Snapchat for a while, when you return and start using it again, Snapchat will reward you with some bonus points.
This helps boost engagement from returning users.
So in summary, your score goes up from:
- Sending snaps
- Receiving snaps
- Posting Stories
- Maintaining Snapstreaks
- Potentially adding friends
- Coming back after a break
And your score will increase faster the more you do all of these actions consistently.
Now let‘s look at how much each action increases your score by.
How Much Does Your Score Go Up Per Snap?
Based on extensive Snapchat user data, here is an estimate of how much your score increases per action:
- Send snap: +1 point per recipient
- Receive snap: +1 point
- Post Story: +1-2 points
- Maintain 1 Streak: +1 point per streak
- Add Friend: Unclear but likely +1 point
So for example:
- Sending a snap to 5 friends = +5 points
- Posting 1 Story = +1-2 points
- Maintaining 10 streaks = +10 points
While increments can vary slightly, you typically gain about 1-2 points per Snapchat activity. It all adds up over time!
The more friends you snap, streaks you maintain, and stories you post, the faster your score climbs.
How to Check Your Snapchat Score
Wondering what your score is? Here is how to find it:
Check Your Own Score
- Open your Snapchat app and tap your profile icon in the top left corner
- Tap the “ghost” icon to access your profile
- Your score is listed right below your username!
Check a Friend‘s Score
To check a friend‘s score:
- Tap the search bar at the top of your Chats screen
- Search their username
- Tap their profile and view the score listed under their name
Snapchat also shows your top friends with their scores alongside yours right on the main Chat screen, making it super easy to compare scores with friends.
So check your score out and see how you stack up against friends!
How to Increase Your Snapchat Score
For some, having the highest score amongst their friends becomes a fun challenge. Here are some tips if you‘re looking to increase your score:
Send Snaps to Lots of Friends
Since sending snaps is the #1 way to earn points, send out mass snaps to all your friends whenever you take a new snap. The more people who get each snap, the more points for you.
Reply to All Received Snaps
Try your best to always open and reply to any snaps you get. Reciprocating keeps the snaps flowing both ways.
Post Stories Frequently
Posting daily Stories is an effortless way to earn 1-2 extra points per Story. Stories also help keep you top of mind with friends.
Maintain Your Streaks
Keep all your streaks alive and snapping daily with friends. Every active streak earns you points day after day.
Constantly Add New Friends
Expand your Snapchat network by adding new friends. More friends = more snapping opportunities.
Stay Active Daily
Using Snapchat regularly and making it part of your daily habit prevents your score from stalling and builds steady momentum.
Take a Break Occasionally
Even occasional short breaks from Snapchat can earn you some “welcome back” points when you resume snapping.
While some snap scoring tactics may seem excessive, regularly staying active is ultimately the best way to gradually build your score over time.
Have fun watching your points stack up!
FAQs About Snapchat Score
Let’s wrap up with answers to some frequently asked questions about Snapchat scores:
Does your score go up when you receive a snap?
Yes! You gain 1 point each time a friend sends you a snap. Opening snaps helps your score.
Do group chats increase your score?
Yes, any snaps sent in group chats count as multiple snaps and add points equal to each recipient.
Do chat messages increase your score?
No, only picture and video snaps add points to your score. Text chats don‘t affect it.
Do streaks increase your Snapchat score?
Absolutely! Each active streak earns you points daily as long as you maintain the streak by continuing to snap.
Can your score decrease or go down?
Nope, Snapchat scores only go up over time. Points are never deducted, only added.
Is there a limit to how high your score can go?
There’s no known score limit! Scores well into the millions are achievable with consistent long-term Snapchat usage.
The Bottom Line on Snapchat Score
While Snapchat keeps their scoring formula private, dedicated usage over time is the key to boosting your score.
Focus on sending more snaps, posting often, maintaining streaks, and engaging actively every day. Do this consistently and your score will climb higher and higher!
I hope this guide helped uncover the mysteries around Snapchat scores. Now get snapping and start racking up those points!
