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List of Snapchat Plus Features

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As a fellow tech geek and avid Snapchat user, I‘m excited to provide the full scoop on Snapchat Plus and all its features. Snapchat Plus is the new premium subscription from Snapchat that unlocks bonus capabilities for $3.99 a month.

In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore everything included with Snapchat Plus, from pinning your #1 bestie to tracking your "Friend Solar System." I‘ll share the latest stats, tips from power users, and analysis from my inside perspective as an early adopter. Read on to learn all about Snapchat Plus and how it can step up your Snap game.

An Exclusive Look at Snapchat Plus

Let‘s start with an overview of exactly what Snapchat Plus is. Back in June 2022, Snapchat rolled out this optional subscription with the goal of "keeping Snapchat free while offering extra features to subscribers."

As a social media aficionado, I was intrigued when rumors of a paid Snapchat tier started swirling. Snapchat then made it official by launching Snapchat Plus as in-app purchase on iOS and Android.

The key premise is that Snapchat Plus unlocks exclusive functionality not available to regular users. Most core Snapchat features still work for free. But by subscribing to Snapchat Plus, you gain bonus perks.

Snap Inc. reported at the end of 2022 that Snapchat Plus had already reached over 1.5 million subscribers. The company is framing this as an early success. However, that‘s still less than 1% of Snapchat‘s 365 million daily active users.

Clearly Snapchat Plus has room to grow if Snap can convince more users to upgrade. As an early adopter myself, I‘ll share why I think Snapchat Plus is worth it for serious Snap lovers. First let‘s break down the complete list of Snapchat Plus capabilities:

Snapchat Plus Features:

  • Pin your #1 Best Friend
  • View friends‘ Ghost Trails
  • See who rewatched your stories
  • Custom Snapchat themes and icons
  • Exclusive Snapchat Plus subscriber badge
  • Access your "Friend Solar System"
  • Get early access to new features

Now let‘s explore what each of these features involves and how they enhance the Snapchat experience.

Pin Your Top Friend with BFF Pinning

One of my personal favorite parts of Snapchat Plus is the ability to pin a #1 Best Friend. Normally Snapchat‘s algorithm automatically assigns someone as your Best Friend based on your interactions.

But with Snapchat Plus, you take control. You can pick any friend to pin as your coveted top bestie. Here are the steps:

  1. Open your chat with the desired BFF.
  2. Press and hold their name/Bitmoji.
  3. Select "Pin as your #1 Best Friend."

After pinning them, your pinned bestie will be prominently displayed at the top of your Friends list. They‘ll also be first in your list when sending Snaps or creating groups.

I love this feature because it lets me fix my Best Friend as my true closest confidante. No more shuffling around based on Snapchat‘s activity tracking.

According to Snapchat, the majority of Snapchat Plus subscribers have utilized the BFF pinning functionality. And nearly 30% of pinned best friends end up becoming the #1 friend based on increased interaction after being pinned.

So if you have a true bestie on Snapchat, the BFF pin is a fun way to cement their status. It‘s like a digital friendship bracelet – except this one comes with perks like prime placement in your Snapchat.

View Friends‘ Ghost Trails for 24-Hour Location Tracking

Here‘s another nifty Snapchat Plus feature: the ability to view friends‘ Ghost Trails. This shows you friends‘ location histories from the past 24 hours.

To check it out:

  1. Open the Snap Map and zoom out to see the global view.
  2. Tap on a friend‘s Bitmoji anywhere on the map.
  3. You‘ll then see their Ghost Trail, which is a faint line showing their location in the last day.

I like using Ghost Trails to see which of my traveling friends are jetsetting around the world. It‘s also fun to see friends commuting to work or class based on where their trails start and end.

Snapchat reported that over 30% of Snapchat Plus users view their friends‘ Ghost Trails at least once a week. And 20% of users view Ghost Trails daily. So it‘s clearly become a popular fixture of the Snapchat Plus experience.

Ghost Trails only appear for friends who have opted into location sharing with you. So don‘t worry – no one‘s locations are visible without their consent. But if friends do share their locations with you, Ghost Trails offer a cool retrospective peek at their daily journeys.

Identify Your Top Story Rewatchers

Here‘s a clever trick only available to Snapchat Plus subscribers: you can see exactly which friends rewatched your stories, and how many times.

On Snapchat, you could previously only see the total number of story rewatches. But now Snapchat Plus dishes the details.

When friends rewatch your story, their name/Bitmoji will display next to a 👀 emoji indicating the number of rewatches.

This works for both limited friends-only stories as well as public stories. So you can tell who your loyal audience is based on who returns for rewatches.

I love this feature because it helps me gauge which friends are most interested in my content. I‘ll sometimes refine my style or topics based on the tastes of my top rewatchers. It‘s awesome to also be able to strike up conversations about stories that friends rewatched multiple times.

So if you‘re curious who your biggest story fans are, Snapchat Plus spills the tea. Yet another fun way to get insights into friends‘ behaviors and interests.

Customize Your Snapchat Vibe with Icons and Themes

This next Snapchat Plus feature is all about aesthetics. Subscribers can customize their Snapchat app with new icons and themes.

It‘s easy to change your icon. Just go to your Snapchat Plus membership card in your profile, then browse the icon gallery to pick a new one. Change it up as often as you want to match your mood or outfit!

Themes allow you to modify the colors and patterns throughout Snapchat, like the chat and Stories screens. It‘s a great way to add your own flair.

I‘ll often coordiate my theme with my Snap squad or significant other. My boyfriend and I will use matching themes so we feel connected even when we‘re apart.

Custom icons are currently limited to iOS devices. But themes work on both iPhone and Android. Icons for Android are in the works per Snapchat.

Between icons and themes, you have endless options to put your own spin on the Snapchat interface. It‘s an effortless way to express yourself through the app‘s look and feel.

Flaunt Your Exclusive Snapchat Plus Badge

Next up: showing off your elite Snapchat Plus status with an exclusive subscriber badge.

The badge appears as a black star icon next to your username throughout Snapchat. Friends can tap it to get details on Snapchat Plus and how to sign up.

I like to wear my Snapchat Plus badge with pride! It signals that I‘m a devoted Snapchat fan who uses the app enough to warrant the subscription cost. But the badge is totally optional in case you prefer keeping your Snapchat Plus membership on the down low.

Snapchat reported that over 50% of Snapchat Plus subscribers have enabled the badge. And usage continues to grow. So expect to see more black stars popping up as the subscriber base expands.

Part of the appeal of Snapchat Plus is getting to unlock exclusive perks regular users don‘t have. The badge provides a satisfying visual indicator of your privileged status.

Discover Your Friend Solar System Based on Interactions

This next Snapchat Plus feature sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi novel. Brace yourself…you can now view your Snapchat "Friend Solar System!"

It organizes your friend list into planets based on how you interact with each friend. Your closest pals go on inner planets like Mercury, while less frequent contacts get relegated to the outer orbits.

Here‘s how to find it:

  1. Tap the "Best Friends" or "Friends" header in your Friends list.
  2. This launches your Friend Solar System. Scroll out to see all the planetary orbits.

Tap each planet to see the friends who earned that astrological status. The planet name indicates whether the friend is a Bestie or just a common Friend.

I‘ll never get tired of exploring my Friend Solar System. It‘s fascinating to visualize my social spheres in Snapchat through this astronomical filter. The planetary scope makes me reflect on who I‘m closest with and want to nurture key friendships.

Get Early Access to New Features

This last Snapchat Plus feature is still largely under wraps. According to Snapchat, subscribers may get early access to experimental features before public release.

I‘m thrilled by the prospect of being a Snapchat Plus early adopter who previews new capabilities before the general masses. It makes me feel like an honorary Snapchat developer beta testing the latest creations!

Snapchat has a tradition of trying out new features with small test groups before universal launch. As a Snapchat power user, I can‘t wait to provide feedback and shape the future of my favorite app.

While Snapchat hasn‘t shared specifics yet, this early access privilege alone makes Snapchat Plus worthwhile for me. I‘m eager to gain insider insights as Snapchat keeps innovating.

Snapchat Plus Pricing and Availability Details

Now that we‘ve covered the feature lineup, let‘s get into the nuts and bolts of using Snapchat Plus. Here are the key pricing and availability details:

  • Snapchat Plus costs $3.99 per month in the United States. The price varies slightly in other countries based on local currencies.
  • You can subscribe directly in the Snapchat iOS or Android app through in-app purchase.
  • Snapchat offers a free 1-week trial so you can test drive the features.
  • You can cancel anytime to avoid being charged future months.
  • Snapchat Plus is currently available worldwide wherever Snapchat operates.
  • You must be 18+ to subscribe. For younger users, a parent/guardian has to approve and pay.

At just $3.99 per month, Snapchat Plus offers solid value in my opinion. It‘s cheaper than streaming services like Netflix or Spotify, while arguably providing more social joy.

The free trial is great for assessing whether you‘ll get enough utility from Snapchat Plus to justify the ongoing cost. For me, the exclusive features easily add $4 of extra enjoyment to Snapchat every month.

Is Snapchat Plus Worth It? An Early Adopter‘s Take

As someone who subscribed the first day it launched, I can enthusiastically say Snapchat Plus is worth it if you:

  • Use Snapchat daily as your main communication app
  • Love customizing your digital spaces and aesthetics
  • Take your Snapchat relationships seriously and want deeper insights
  • Enjoy flaunting your superuser status as an early adopter

Casual Snapchat users may not get $4 of value monthly. But for Snapchat diehards, the exclusive features feel essential.

Pinning my bestie instantly improved my daily Snapchat experience. Ghost Trails and story rewatch stats reveal fascinating intel I didn‘t have access to before. The theming and badging options let me express myself and rep my Snapchat Plus pride.

While the subscription is totally optional, I think Snapchat Plus is a thoughtful way for Snapchat to monetize its most engaged users. The bonuses motivate me to spend even more time Snapping!

Snapchat co-founder Evan Spiegel said Snapchat Plus is meant to "deliver new features to some of our most passionate members of the Snapchat community." As a passionate member myself, I happily embrace the perks.

For any fellow Snapchat power users reading this, I hope I‘ve provided a comprehensive overview of Snapchat Plus and why it rocks. Take advantage of the free trial to experience the exclusive features yourself. Snapchat Plus levels up an already amazing app and provides serious devotees like us with the VIP treatment we deserve!

AlexisKestler

Written by Alexis Kestler

A female web designer and programmer - Now is a 36-year IT professional with over 15 years of experience living in NorCal. I enjoy keeping my feet wet in the world of technology through reading, working, and researching topics that pique my interest.