I spent the last few weeks testing Snapchat score behavior across two fresh test profiles and my own personal account. If you have ever stared at that small number under a friend's Bitmoji and wondered why it is suddenly skyrocketing (or completely frozen), I have some news. Snapchat's help section calls it a "special equation," but the actual mechanics are much simpler—and a little more annoying—than they let on.
While the system is kept slightly mysterious to keep you using the app, my tests showed exactly what ticks the counter up and what is a complete waste of your time. Let us look at what actually counts, what is a myth, and how to increase your score without getting your account locked for spam.
- Texts are ignored: Sending plain text messages, links, or stickers in a chat does not increase your score by a single point.
- Group Snaps fail: Sending a Snap inside a group chat does not increase your score. You must send Snaps directly and individually to friends.
- Syncing lag is real: Your score does not update in real-time. I often had to force-close the app and wait 15 minutes to see my points update.
- Story posts count: Every slide you post to your public or private Story adds 1 point to your score.
- Bans are real: Spamming 100 people with blank Snaps repeatedly can trigger automated filters and temporarily lock your account.
What Exactly is a Snapscore?
Your Snapscore is essentially Snapchat's way of gamifying your activity. Unlike Instagram or TikTok, where social status is measured by follower counts, Snapchat measures how active you are in trading direct, visual messages.
It is a loyalty metric. It lives on your profile page right next to your zodiac sign, visible to anyone you have mutually added as a friend.
You cannot hide your Snapscore from your friends. The only way to hide it from a specific person is to remove them as a friend or block them. If you are not mutual friends, your score will show up as blank to them.
What Actually Counts (And What Doesn't)
I ran direct tests to isolate different actions. Here is the verified reality of what increases your score:
One interesting anomaly: I noticed that if you do not use the app for a few days, your first Snap after returning often gets a small bonus boost (around 5 to 10 points). The algorithm likely uses this to reward returning users and hook them back into the daily scroll.
How to Check Your Sent vs. Received Breakdown
Most users only look at their total score, but the app actually tracks your sent and received numbers separately. Here is how to find the detailed view:
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Open Snapchat and tap your Bitmoji or profile icon in the top-left corner.
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Look at the number right under your username—this is your total score.
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Tap that number. It will split into two different numbers separated by a vertical line.
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The **first number** is the count of Snaps you have sent. The **second number** is the count of Snaps you have received and opened.
If you add those two numbers up, they usually do not equal your total score. Why? Because the system also factors in bonus points for Story posts, streak milestones, and system rewards that are not categorised as sent or received direct messages.
How to Increase Your Score Safely (Without Getting Banned)
If you want to grow your score, avoid any shady shortcuts. The safest way is simply changing how you interact with your active friends.
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📸Trade Snaps Instead of Texts
When replying to friends, send a quick photo of your surroundings or a face Snap with a text overlay instead of typing a regular text. It takes the same amount of time but adds points for both of you.
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🔥Maintain Daily Streaks
Keep up daily Streaks with close friends. Exchanging one Snap every 24 hours ensures a steady stream of points and drops periodic streak milestone bonuses.
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📅Post Multi-Slide Stories
Instead of posting one video, slice your updates into 3-4 shorter Story clips. Each slide adds a point, helping you grow your score organically.
Never use websites or services that claim they can hack or boost your Snapscore. These are simple phishing scams designed to steal your account. Sharing your login details with them will get your account permanently locked by Snapchat for violating security terms.
Why Isn't Your Snapscore Going Up?
If you notice your score hasn't changed after sending multiple Snaps, do not worry. It is usually a server delay.
Snapchat processes millions of messages every minute. To save bandwidth, the app does not query the central database for every single Snap you exchange. Instead, it updates the visual score on your profile in batches. If your score is stuck, try force-quitting the app, checking your internet connection, or simply waiting an hour. The points are logged on the server and will show up once the app syncs.
The Snapchat+ Multiplier Explained
For users who pay for Snapchat+, there is a premium feature called the Snapscore Multiplier.
When you subscribe to Snapchat+ and turn on the multiplier, your score increases at double the speed. However, there is a catch: it only works when you exchange Snaps with other Snapchat+ subscribers. If you send a Snap to a friend who is on the free tier, you only get the standard 1 point. If you trade with another paid subscriber, you both get a 2x boost on that interaction.
Common Snapchat Score Myths
Let us clear up the most popular misinformation floating around online:
Reality: Your score will never go down. If you delete the app and return two years later, your score will be exactly where you left it.
Reality: Filters look cool, but they do not affect the score calculation. A plain photo and a heavily filtered selfie both add exactly 1 point.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In my tests, sending photo or video Snaps to a group chat did not increase the score. You have to send them to friends individually for the points to register.
No. Snapchat does not send notifications when someone visits your profile to view your score. It is completely anonymous.
Yes. Sending a Snap to your own username and opening it will increase your score by 1 point. However, doing this constantly can trigger spam detection filters, so I do not recommend relying on it.
My Final Verdict
Your Snapchat score is a fun way to track how active you are with your friends, but it is not worth stressing over. Trying to inflate it by spamming people or using third-party services is a quick way to get your account locked or compromised.
Focus on exchanging real, casual updates with your friends. Keep your streaks alive, share moments to your Story, and let the score climb naturally in the background while you use the app.
Amisha Pant
A dedicated freelance writer with a focus on delivering high-quality content tailored to enhance online engagement. With expertise in AI, digital marketing, technology, or business strategy.
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