If you've been asking yourself how do I know if someone has Snapchat Premium, here's the honest answer: in some cases you can tell, and in others you simply cannot.

Snapchat gives subscribers the choice to conceal their subscription status, so while a handful of visible clues do exist, none of them work as a guaranteed method on their own.

How Do I Know If Someone Has Snapchat Premium And What Is It?

"Snapchat Premium" is the informal name most people use for Snapchat+, the platform's official paid subscription tier.

Snap launched the service in June 2022 at $3.99/month, as reported by CNBC, offering exclusive and pre-release features like pinning a close friend as a BFF and customizing the app icon that aren't available on the free version.

The free tier still covers everything most casual users need: snaps, stories, filters, Snap Map, and Discover. Snapchat+ is built for heavier users who want extra control over how they interact and appear on the platform.

Visible Clues That Reveal a Snapchat+ Subscription

These are signs you can actually observe from your end not features that only the subscriber themselves can see.

1. A Star Badge Sitting Next to Their Name

This is the most straightforward indicator available. Snapchat+ subscribers can choose to display a small black star (★) beside their display name on their profile page. If you spot it, they have the subscription.

The catch: it's completely optional. Users can switch the badge off in their settings at any time. So the absence of a star doesn't confirm anything they may still have Snapchat+ and simply opted not to show it.

In practice, many users do keep the badge visible, particularly right after subscribing. But it should never be treated as a reliable signal of non-subscription when it's missing.

2. Their Story Is Still Up After the 24-Hour Mark

Standard Snapchat stories vanish after 24 hours. According to TechCrunch, Snapchat+ lets subscribers set a custom story duration anywhere from one hour to seven days instead of the default window.

If you notice a friend's story has been visible for longer than 24 hours, that's a strong indication they're on Snapchat+.

This sign is passively observable you don't need to visit their profile to catch it. It just shows up in your regular story feed.

3. An AI-Generated Bitmoji Background on Their Profile

Snapchat+ subscribers can apply exclusive AI-generated backgrounds to their profile display. These backgrounds have a distinct look: a golden ring border and a visible "AI" label that sets them apart from standard profile setups.

If you visit someone's profile and see this style of background, it's a reliable confirmation that they have Snapchat+. Not every subscriber enables this feature, but those who do make it easy for others to identify.

4. A Pinned Best Friend Forever Contact

Snapchat+ users can pin one friend permanently to the top of their chat list using a Best Friends Forever (BFF) designation. This pin can occasionally be visible on the friendship profile page between you and that person.

It's a subtler clue and easier to overlook, but it does surface in some cases when you visit a shared friendship page.

What You Cannot Determine From the Outside

This is where a lot of guides go wrong they list subscriber-only features as though outsiders can observe them.

Here's a clear breakdown of what's actually visible versus what isn't:

Feature	Can Others See It?	Who Actually Sees It
Star badge (★)	Yes — only if enabled	Visible to anyone on their profile
Extended story duration	Yes — passively	Visible in your story feed
AI Bitmoji background	Yes — if enabled	Visible to anyone on their profile
Pinned Best Friend	Sometimes	Visible on friendship profile page
Story rewatch count	No	Subscriber sees who rewatched
Half-swipe detection	No	Subscriber only
Custom chat wallpapers	No	Subscriber's view only
Custom app icons	No	Only on subscriber's own phone
Custom notification sounds	No	Only audible on subscriber's device

Story rewatch counts, half-swipe alerts, and custom chat wallpapers come up frequently in discussions about identifying Snapchat+ users but none of these are things you can actually observe.

They're data and settings exclusive to the person holding the subscription. Knowing this distinction saves you from misreading the wrong signals entirely.

What Happens If They Have Snapchat+ but Show No Visible Signs?

This scenario is completely possible. A Snapchat+ subscriber who has turned off the badge, hasn't posted a story recently, and hasn't enabled the AI background will leave behind zero external indicators. There's simply no way to confirm from your end.

No third-party app or external workaround can verify whether someone holds an active Snapchat+ subscription. If you encounter any tool claiming to offer this, avoid it subscription status is not data that Snapchat makes publicly accessible.

Conclusion

Three signs can genuinely confirm that someone has Snapchat+: the star badge on their profile, a story that's been live past the 24-hour mark, and an AI-generated Bitmoji background.

Everything else is subscriber-side only. If none of these appear, there's no reliable method to know for certain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is "Snapchat Premium" the Same Thing as Snapchat Plus?

Yes. "Snapchat Premium" is simply the informal term people use in everyday conversation. The official product name is Snapchat+. They refer to exactly the same paid subscription.

Will Snapchat Notify Someone If I Check Their Profile for the Badge?

No. Snapchat does not send notifications when someone views your profile page. You can check without any concern.

Can I Spot Snapchat Plus Features in a Group Chat?

No. None of the visible Snapchat+ indicators appear in group chats. You'd need to visit their individual profile or observe their story feed to catch any of the signs listed above.

Are There Third-Party Tools That Can Check Someone's Snapchat Plus Status?

No legitimate tool exists for this purpose. Snapchat+ subscription status is treated as private account data. Any app or website claiming to reveal it should be treated with skepticism and avoided.

Does Snapchat Plus Change How the App Icon Looks to Others?

Custom app icons are indeed a Snapchat+ feature, but only the subscriber sees their own home screen. There is no way for you to know what app icon someone else has chosen on their phone.