Are you curious about how your Snapchat score climbs and what really fuels it? In this article you’ll discover exactly what drives your Snap Score upward, which activities count, what myths to ignore, and actionable strategies to raise your number the right way.
In this article you will learn how the Snap Score is calculated, what actions boost it fast, and how to avoid pitfalls.
What is a Snap Score?
Your Snap Score is the number shown beside your username that reflects your activity level on Snapchat. According to Snapchat, it’s calculated by a “super-secret, special equation” that takes into account how many Snaps you’ve sent and received, Stories you’ve posted, and other undisclosed factors.
The purpose of the Snap Score is mostly fun and social—it doesn’t unlock major features or pay you. But for many users it’s a badge of engagement.
Why Does Your Snap Score Matter?
While a high Snap Score has no direct monetary value, it can serve as:
- A mark of social presence, showing friends you’re active
- A fun way to compete with friends and build streaks
- A motivator to use features of Snapchat you might otherwise ignore
If you’re aiming to boost it, knowing which actions genuinely count will help you invest your time wisely.
Core Activities That Increase Your Score
- Sending & Receiving Snaps (photos/videos)
The most reliable way to increase your score is by sending photo or video Snaps and receiving them. Each Snap sent or received contributes to your score. - Posting Stories
When you post a Story (a photo or video visible to friends or public depending on your settings), it adds to your engagement and thus your score. - Maintaining Snap Streaks
Having an ongoing streak (sending Snaps back and forth with a friend for consecutive days) doesn’t just look cool—it signals you’re consistently active, which boosts your score growth. - Using Snapchat Features Regularly
The more you use Snapchat—open Snaps from others, reply, explore Discover content—the more signals you send that you’re engaged. Even though text chats alone don’t count, they help keep activity going. - For Snapchat+ Subscribers: Snap Score Multiplier
If you’re a subscriber of Snapchat +, you can toggle a Snap Score Multiplier which allows your score to rise faster when you send Snaps to or receive from other Snapchat+ users.
Important Activities That Do Not Increase Your Score
- Sending text chats only (without photo/video) does not count.
- Sending the exact same Snap to many friends at once does not multiply points.
- Buying services or using “hack” websites to boost your score artificially can get you banned.
- Inactivity or only opening the app without interaction yields little or no increase.
Myths and Misconceptions
- Myth: “If I send the same photo to 50 friends I’ll get 50 points.” Reality: duplicate snaps are often not counted or flagged.
- Myth: “Adding friends alone dramatically increases my score.” Reality: friend-addition counts little if you don’t interact.
- Myth: “Deleting a friend resets/lowers my score.” Reality: Your score does not go down—it only stays static or rises.
- Myth: “Using third-party apps to bulk send Snaps will boost score.” Reality: These violate Snapchat rules, risk account ban, and often don’t work.
How Snapchat Calculates Score (What We Know)
- Every photo or video Snap you send adds to your score.
- Every photo or video Snap you receive also contributes.
- Posting a story adds points.
- Maintaining consistent activity signals boosts score increment speed.
- The exact formula is secret and may weigh factors like streaks, interactions, recency.
- For Snapchat+ users the multiplier adds an extra dimension.
Tips to Make Your Snap Score Rise Faster (Ethically & Effectively)
- Send daily Snaps to close friends (photo/video).
- Receive Snaps back—engagement matters.
- Post at least one Story per day.
- Keep Snap streaks alive with a few friends—two-day streaks add momentum.
- Explore Snapchat features: filters, lenses, Bitmoji, Discover, Snap Map.
- If you subscribe to Snapchat+, enable the multiplier for faster growth.
- Avoid bulk sends of identical Snap—spread unique content across friends.
- Stay active every day rather than doing a huge session once a week.
- Update your app regularly to avoid score-update delays from bugs.
- Don’t chase unrealistic overnight jumps. Slow steady growth is safer and more genuine.
Why Your Score Might Be Stuck
- You’re not sending any photo/video Snaps—only chatting.
- You send Snaps but don’t receive many back (one-way interaction reduces points).
- You rely on sending the same Snap to many friends at once—algorithm may ignore duplicates.
- Your app version is outdated and the counter isn’t updating.
- You tried a third-party service and Snapchat flagged your account.
What’s the “Best” Score to Aim For?
There’s no official benchmark, but generally:
- Scores under 50,000 indicate moderate activity.
- Scores above 200,000 show heavy engagement.
- Some users reach millions of points, but it takes time and consistent effort.
Best Practices for U.S. Audience Using Snapchat
- Many U.S. Snapchat users compete with friends for streaks—use that social element to stay motivated.
- Use location-based features like Snap Map and local Stories—it connects you to regional content and may increase interactions.
- Time your Stories during high-traffic hours (after school, evenings) to maximize views and responses.
- Tag friends in your Stories when relevant—they reply and boost your engagement.
- Keep your privacy settings safe but open enough to receive responses—friends responding = more score.
Final Thoughts
Your Snap Score is more than a number—it’s a reflection of how you use Snapchat. While the formula remains hidden, the principles are clear: send and receive photo/video Snaps, stay consistent, post Stories, engage with friends, and avoid shortcuts.
Focus less on the number and more on meaningful interaction—and your score will rise naturally.