Your Snapscore goes up when you send and receive snaps, not when you open them

Opening a snap that someone sent you does not increase your Snapscore. Only sending snaps and receiving snaps (meaning someone sent one to you) count toward the score. This is an important distinction because many people assume that opening snaps, viewing stories, or using other Snapchat features will boost their number — they won't.

The Snapscore is Snapchat's way of tracking how active you are on the platform, but it measures a narrow slice of activity: the exchange of snaps between users. It does not measure how much time you spend on the app, how many stories you view, how many chats you send, or how many friends you have.

Key Takeaways

  • Snapscore increases only when you send a snap to another user or receive a snap from someone else.
  • Opening snaps, viewing stories, sending text messages, or using filters and lenses does not change your score.
  • The exact formula Snapchat uses to calculate points per snap is not public, so you cannot predict exactly how many points one snap will add.
  • Your Snapscore is visible to your friends and to you, but it serves no practical purpose — it is purely a gamification feature.

What actually increases your Snapscore

Sending a snap to one person or to a group adds points to your score. Receiving a snap from someone else also adds points. That is the complete list of actions that move the number. Snapchat does not publish the exact point value for each snap, and the value may vary — a snap sent to one person might be worth a different number of points than a snap sent to a group of ten people, though Snapchat has never confirmed this.

Streaks (consecutive days of exchanging snaps with the same person) do not directly increase your Snapscore, but they encourage you to send more snaps, which does increase it. The flame emoji and number next to a friend's name show your streak count, but that is separate from your overall Snapscore.

What does not increase your Snapscore

Opening a snap someone sent you contributes nothing to your score. Neither does viewing a story, sending a chat message, making a video call, or using a filter or lens. Watching someone's story repeatedly does not count. Replying to a story with a snap does count, because you are sending a snap — but the reply itself (the text or emoji you add) does not.

Some users believe that sending snaps with certain filters or using the app at certain times of day will boost their score faster. This is not true. The only variable that matters is whether you sent or received a snap.

Why Snapchat created Snapscore

Snapscore is a gamification feature designed to encourage users to send more snaps. By making the number visible to your friends, Snapchat created a mild competitive element — some users care about having a higher score than their friends, which keeps them sending snaps. It is similar to how other social platforms show follower counts or like counts: the number itself is not useful, but the visibility of it encourages engagement.

Snapchat does not use Snapscore to rank users, recommend content, or determine what appears in your feed. It is purely cosmetic. Your score does not affect your account in any way beyond being a number your friends can see.

How to find your Snapscore

Your Snapscore appears on your profile. Tap your profile icon in the top left corner of the camera screen, then look at the number next to your username. You can also see your friends' Snapscores by tapping their names in your friends list and viewing their profiles.

If you do not want your friends to see your Snapscore, Snapchat does not offer a way to hide it. The number is visible to anyone who views your profile.

Common misconceptions about Snapscore

Many users believe their Snapscore resets periodically or that Snapchat deletes old points. This is false. Your Snapscore is cumulative and only goes up (or stays the same if you stop using the app). It never decreases unless Snapchat detects activity that violates its terms of service, such as using third-party apps or bots to artificially inflate the score.

Another common belief is that Snapscore affects your privacy or safety on the platform. It does not. The score is just a number tied to your account. It has no connection to what Snapchat can see about your activity, who can contact you, or how your data is used.

What happens if you use bots or third-party apps to increase Snapscore

Some third-party apps and bots claim they can automatically send snaps or increase your Snapscore without your involvement. Using these tools violates Snapchat's terms of service. If Snapchat detects this activity, it may suspend or permanently ban your account. The risk is not worth the small number of points you might gain.

Additionally, these third-party apps often request access to your Snapchat login credentials. Giving your password to an outside service puts your account at risk of being hacked or compromised, even if the app itself is legitimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Snapchat tell you when your score increases?

No. You will not receive a notification when your Snapscore goes up. You have to check your profile manually to see the current number. Some users check their score regularly to track their progress, but Snapchat does not alert you to changes.

Can you lose Snapscore points?

Your Snapscore does not decrease under normal circumstances. It only goes up as you send and receive snaps. If Snapchat detects that you used bots or third-party apps, it may reset your score or ban your account, but this is rare.

Why is my Snapscore not going up even though I am sending snaps?

Snapscore updates are not instant. There can be a delay of several minutes or even hours before a snap you sent registers on your score. If you have sent many snaps and your score has not changed in a day, try restarting the app or checking your internet connection.

Do group snaps count the same as snaps sent to one person?

Snapchat has never officially stated whether a snap sent to a group counts as one snap or multiple snaps toward your score. Most users report that sending one snap to a group of people counts as a single action, but the exact point value may differ from a one-on-one snap.

Is there any benefit to having a high Snapscore?

No. Snapscore is purely for personal tracking and friendly competition. It does not unlock features, affect your account status, or change how Snapchat treats you. A high score means you send and receive many snaps, but that is all it indicates.