Snapchat Plus is a new subscription service introduced by Snapchat in June 2022 that unlocks exclusive features for paying users. One of the key features of Snapchat Plus is the ability to change your Snapchat icon to one of several new designs. This has led many Snapchat users to wonder – what does your Snapchat Plus icon look like to friends who don’t have the paid subscription? Does it appear as your old standard yellow ghost icon, or can non-subscribers see your fancy new Snapchat Plus icon too?
The Snapchat Plus Icon
When you upgrade to Snapchat Plus, you gain access to a selection of over 10 new icons to choose from. These include unique designs like a flaming heart, a cute animal face, a star, and more.
The ability to change your Snapchat icon is one of the main incentives that Snapchat hopes will convince users to pay $3.99 per month for Snapchat Plus. Having a different icon helps your profile stand out among friends and makes your account seem more personalized and stylish.
What Non-Subscribers See
However, when someone who doesn’t have Snapchat Plus looks at your profile, they won’t see your new exclusive Snapchat Plus icon. To anyone who doesn’t pay for Snapchat Plus, your icon will still appear as the classic Snapchat ghost – yellow on a white background.
Snapchat has confirmed that the Snapchat Plus icons are only visible to other users who also have Snapchat Plus. This prevents any confusion for users who don’t have the paid subscription and enforce the exclusivity and special status of having Snapchat Plus.
So while the new Snapchat Plus icons are a fun bonus for paying users, they don’t actually change how your account looks on the platform for non-subscribing friends. Snapchat hasn’t provided the ability to show off your exclusive Snapchat Plus features to just anyone yet.
Why Icons Are Only Visible to Subscribers
Snapchat has a few potential reasons for making Snapchat Plus icons only visible to other subscribers:
- Encourages Snapchat Plus Sign-Ups – By making the exclusive icons only visible to other paid users, Snapchat hopes more people will be convinced to upgrade to Snapchat Plus. If everyone could see the special icons, it would take away some of the appeal and status of being a paying subscriber.
- Avoids Confusion – Keeping Snapchat Plus features contained within the subscriber community prevents non-paying users from seeing unfamiliar icons and new account features they don’t understand.
- Limited Exclusivity – While anyone can pay $3.99 per month to get Snapchat Plus, limiting icon visibility helps retain some level of exclusivity for subscribers. There is still incentive for people to upgrade if they know non-subscribers won’t get to see their special Snapchat Plus icon.
Showing Off Your Snapchat Plus Icon
While non-paying Snapchatters won’t see your fancy new Snapchat Plus icon, there are still a few ways you can show off your subscriber status with your friends and connections on Snapchat:
- Send a Screenshot – Take a screenshot of your Snapchat profile and send it to friends who don’t have Snapchat Plus so they can get a glimpse of your new icon.
- Use it in Chats – Set your Snapchat Plus icon as your default Chat icon so anyone you message will see that you have the paid version.
- Show it Off In-Person – Open up your Snapchat app in front of friends IRL so they can witness your special Plus icon in all its glory.
- Tell Them – Don’t be shy about letting your friends know you’ve upgraded to Snapchat Plus and have an exclusive new icon.
While Snapchat Plus icons aren’t visible to all of your Snapchat friends, subscribers can still show them off through screenshots, chats, and good old-fashioned bragging about their paid status on the app. The icon itself might stay exclusive, but there are still options to flaunt it in more limited ways.
Adding Friends with Snapchat Plus
Another common question about Snapchat Plus is whether you can search for and add friends specifically who also have Snapchat Plus subscriptions.
Unfortunately, Snapchat currently does not provide a way to search for or identify which of your friends and connections have signed up for Snapchat Plus. The app doesn’t give subscribers the ability to find one another – you simply have to figure it out organically as you use Snapchat.
A Snapchat Plus badge or indicator beside usernames would be a helpful feature to add in the future. It would enable paying users to connect with each other and build a distinct Snapchat Plus community.
For now, the only reliable way to know if someone else has Snapchat Plus is to see their icon change from the classic ghost to a special Plus design. You can also simply ask your Snapchat connections if they have access to Snapchat Plus features. But a more official directory or badge system does not exist at this time.
Conclusion
While Snapchat Plus offers subscribers the fun ability to change up their account’s icon, this perk is contained within the paying Snapchat Plus community. Non-subscribers will still see your old yellow ghost icon rather than your new special Snapchat Plus design.
Snapchat likely does this to encourage more sign-ups for Snapchat Plus while avoiding confusion for non-paying users. But even if outsiders can’t see your exclusive icon, you can still show it off through screenshots, chats, and general bragging about your status.
The icons provide an aesthetic perk for Snapchat Plus users only. If you want to fully experience the special badges and designs firsthand, you’ll have to join Snapchat’s paid subscription service.