Snapchat’s “Best Friends” feature allows users to see their closest friends on the app. The people you snap with the most will show up at the top of your best friends list. Snapchat Plus is a paid subscription that unlocks additional features like pinning a #1 best friend, seeing new best friends first, and more. Best Friends Forever is an exclusive Snapchat Plus feature that lets you pick one best friend to remain at the top of your list for as long as you’re both subscribed to Snapchat Plus.
What are Snapchat best friends?
Snapchat’s best friends feature shows you your closest friends on the app based on how frequently you snap each other. You can find your best friends list by going to your profile and swiping down. Up to 8 friends will show up on this list, ranked from your #1 best friend at the top to #8 at the bottom. Snapchat’s algorithm calculates your best friends by looking at the total snaps, pictures, videos, chats, and stories you’ve exchanged with each friend over the past week. The friends you interact with the most will move to the top of your best friends list.
How is the best friends algorithm calculated?
While Snapchat doesn’t share the exact formula it uses, the best friends algorithm generally considers:
- Total snaps sent back and forth – Pictures and videos count for more than chats
- Stories replied to – Replying to a friend’s story bumps up your interaction
- Frequency of communication – Snapping daily is better than weekly
- Days in a row snapped – Consecutive days boosts your friend score
So someone you snap 50 times a day with back-and-forth interaction will likely appear higher than someone you snap 5 times a week one-sidedly. The algorithm is updated every week to capture the most recent interactions.
Why can some friends no longer see my best friends?
In 2018, Snapchat removed the ability to see who else is on your best friends list. Now, you can only see your own best friends – not who has you as their best friend. This makes it more private and less of a social contest to be someone’s #1 best friend. Before 2018, all best friend relationships were visible to both people. Now, everything is more anonymous unless you choose to share your list.
What is Snapchat Plus?
Snapchat Plus is an optional subscription plan that launched in 2022. It gives you access to exclusive features for $3.99 per month. Some key Snapchat Plus features include:
- Pick your own #1 Best Friend
- See your new Best Friends first
- Re-do your Snapchat story
- Pin one friend to the top of your chat list
Plus also removes ads, lets you change app icons, gives you a Premium Snapchat support line, and more. It is designed to let Snapchat power users customize and enhance their experience in ways regular users can’t.
How is Snapchat Plus different from regular Snapchat?
| Snapchat | Snapchat Plus |
|---|---|
| Algorithm picks best friends order | Can pin #1 best friend |
| No chat pinning | Can pin one friend to the top |
| No story re-dos | Can re-do story once daily |
| No ad removal | No ads |
The core Snapchat functionality is the same. Snapchat Plus gives you bonus customization options for $3.99/month on top of the free experience.
What is Best Friends Forever on Snapchat Plus?
Best Friends Forever is a new Snapchat Plus feature that lets you designate one person as your permanent #1 best friend. This best friend will stay pinned as your #1 as long as you’re both still subscribed to Snapchat Plus, even if you don’t snap regularly anymore.
Here’s how it works:
- You and your chosen best friend must both pay for Snapchat Plus.
- One of you goes to your best friends list and taps the “BFF” icon next to their name.
- A prompt will pop up to confirm making them your Best Friend Forever.
- After both confirming, that friend will now stay as your #1 best friend as long as you’re both still subscribed to Snapchat Plus.
Even if your normal frequent snapping would push them down the list organically, they’ll remain pinned to the top spot thanks to Best Friends Forever.
Who should use Best Friends Forever?
Best Friends Forever is ideal for:
- Childhood best friends who live far apart now
- Significant others in long-distance relationships
- Siblings or family members you always want at the top
- Very close group chats where you want to pin one person
Essentially, it ensures your true #1 bestie stays at the top no matter what changes in your Snapchat usage. As long as you both keep paying!
Pros and cons of Best Friends Forever
Pros
- Lets you override Snapchat’s algorithm
- Ensures your #1 best friend spot no matter what
- Great for long-distance BFFs or relationships
- One less social metric to worry about tracking
Cons
- Costs money – both people must pay for Snapchat Plus
- Algorithm no longer reflects your true usage
- Can’t organically get a new #1 best friend
- Might be seen as bragging if public in the future
The biggest tradeoff is having control over your #1 vs. accurately reflecting your current real-world best friends.
Conclusion
Snapchat’s Best Friends Forever feature lets you pick one person to permanently pin to the top #1 spot on your best friends list. As long as you both remain subscribed to Snapchat Plus, they’ll stay at #1 regardless of changes in your normal Snapchat usage and algorithm calculation. It’s ideal for long-distance childhood friends, significant others, siblings, and very close friend groups. Overall, Best Friends Forever gives you control over your #1 at the cost of $3.99 per month and an inaccurate algorithm. But for some people, ensuring their true #1 BFF or partner remains at the top will be well worth the money and customization.