Snap Score: Sending vs Receiving Snaps

Does sending snaps increase your snap score more than receiving them? No — sending and receiving snaps each add one point to your Snap Score, and there is no difference in the amount. Both actions count equally toward your score, so the quickest way to raise it is to send and receive as many snaps as possible.

How Snap Score Actually Works

Snap Inc. has never published the exact formula for Snap Score, but the company has confirmed that it is based on the number of snaps you send and receive, plus a few other activities. The most reliable community testing shows that each snap you send adds one point, and each snap you receive adds one point. This means sending and receiving are weighted identically.

Other actions that count toward your score include:

• Posting a story (each story post adds a point)
• Chatting with friends (text messages add points, though the exact ratio is unclear)
• Completing Snapchat’s in-app challenges and achievements

It’s important to note that opening a snap does not add a point — only sending and receiving count. Also, snaps sent to group chats count the same as one-on-one snaps, so sending one snap to a group of ten friends still only adds one point.

Why Sending and Receiving Are Equal

Snapchat’s goal is to encourage two-way communication. If sending snaps were worth more than receiving, users would have an incentive to spam snaps without engaging with replies. By making both actions equal, the platform rewards balanced interaction. This is also why stories and chats add points — they keep users active in multiple ways.

Some users believe that sending a snap to someone who doesn’t open it still counts, and that is true. The point is added when the snap is sent, not when it is opened. Similarly, receiving a snap adds a point even if you never open it. So the score reflects activity, not engagement.

How to Check Your Snap Score

Your Snap Score is visible on your profile, but you can also see a friend’s score. Here’s how:

1. Open Snapchat and tap your Bitmoji or profile icon in the top-left corner.
2. Your Snap Score is displayed under your name, next to a small ghost icon.
3. To see a friend’s score, go to your Friends list, tap their name, and the score appears under their name.
4. You can also tap the ghost icon next to a score to see a breakdown of snaps sent and received (this is only visible for your own account).

The breakdown shows two numbers: snaps sent and snaps received. Adding them together gives a base score, but the actual Snap Score is usually higher because of stories and chats. If you want to test the equality, track your score, send a snap, and check again — it will go up by one. Then receive a snap and check again — it will also go up by one.

Common Misconceptions About Snap Score

There are several myths about Snap Score that persist online. Here are the most common ones, and the truth behind them:

• “Sending snaps gives more points than receiving.â€� False — both give exactly one point.
• “Snap streaks give bonus points.â€� False — streaks themselves do not add points, but the snaps you send and receive to maintain the streak do.
• “Opening snaps increases your score.â€� False — opening does nothing; only sending and receiving count.
• “Your score can go down.â€� False — Snap Score never decreases, even if you delete snaps or unfriend someone.
• “Using third-party apps boosts your score.â€� False — third-party apps are against Snapchat’s terms and can get your account locked.

These myths spread because Snapchat has never explained the formula fully, but community testing over the years has consistently shown the equal weighting.

How to Increase Your Snap Score Quickly

If your goal is to raise your score, the most effective method is simple: send and receive more snaps. Here are practical ways to do that:

• Send a snap to a friend every day — even a quick photo of your surroundings counts.
• Reply to every snap you receive, even with a short video or photo.
• Post stories regularly — each story post adds a point.
• Join group chats and send snaps to the group — each snap sent counts as one point, regardless of how many people are in the group.
• Use Snapchat’s built-in challenges (like the “Snap Mapâ€� challenges) when they are available.

It’s worth noting that sending snaps to strangers or using auto-send bots is against Snapchat’s rules and can lead to a temporary or permanent ban. Do not risk your account for a higher score.

Does Snap Score Matter?

Snap Score is essentially a gamification metric — it has no bearing on your account’s features, visibility, or ranking. It is purely a fun number that reflects your activity. Some users treat it as a social status symbol, but it does not unlock any special features or privileges.

If you are concerned about privacy, you can adjust who can see your Snap Score. In Settings, under “Who Can,� you can choose “My Friends� or “Only Me� for the “See My Snap Score� option. This does not affect your score, but it does keep it private.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does sending a snap to multiple people count multiple times?

No. Sending one snap to a group or to multiple friends counts as a single snap sent, so it adds only one point to your score. If you want more points, you need to send individual snaps to different people.

Do Snapchat stories increase your score?

Yes, each story post adds one point to your Snap Score. This is separate from the points you get for sending snaps. However, story views do not add points — only posting the story counts.

Can your Snap Score go down?

No. Snap Score is a cumulative metric that only increases. Even if you delete your account and recreate it, the new account starts at zero, but your existing score never decreases due to activity changes.

Does using Snapchat on multiple devices affect your score?

No. Your Snap Score is tied to your account, not a specific device. Logging in on a new phone or tablet does not change your score, and snaps sent from any device count the same.

Why is my Snap Score higher than the sum of my sent and received snaps?

Because the score also includes points from stories, chats, and other activities. The “sent and received� breakdown on your profile only shows snap counts, not the full formula. Your total score is a combination of all activities.

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in t | Total snaps sent | snaps | 50 | 0
in r | Total snaps received | snaps | 50 | 0
out score | Snap Score from snaps | points | t + r | 0