Do you know your Snapchat score? The chances are you've seen the random number by your username at least once. Maybe you've even tried to increase your Snapchat score in the past.

But do you know what your Snapchat score means? Like many frustrating Snapchat features, your score appears to be illogical. But don't worry, here's some basic info about what your Snapchat score is and ways you can improve it.

What Is Your Snapchat Score?

Snapchat isn't exactly forthcoming about its score feature. This is what Snapchat's website says about your Snap score:

Your Snapchat score is determined by a super-secret, special equation that combines the number of Snaps you’ve sent and received, the Stories you’ve posted and a few other factors.

Essentially, your Snapchat score is a running tally of your activity on Snapchat, including Snaps sent, Snaps received, users added, stories you send, and more. Many users compare Snapchat scores as a way to compete with each other.

If you're new, make sure to read our guide on Snapchat and how it works before moving on.

How Are Snapchat Scores Calculated?

Red Shirt girl taking selfie and pointing while smiling

Welcome to the "few other factors" that Snapchat mentions. While no one knows what exactly these factors are, there are some solid theories. Based on research, these are the likely contributors to your score:

  • Snaps sent
  • Snaps received
  • Number of friends added
  • The number of stories you post
  • Maintaining Snap Streaks with friends
  • Bonus points when you start using the app again after having not used it for a while.

How to Find Your Snapchat Score

If you've never looked for your Snapchat score before, it can be a bit difficult to find. To start, head over to your Profile screen on the Snapchat app (tap your Bitmoji's face or the circle icon in the top-left of your screen).

Your Snap code will appear next to your username, with your Snap score and zodiac sign immediately below it. Tap your Snap score to reveal two other numbers: The number of Snaps you've sent since creating your account, and the number of Snaps you've received.

Why Don’t My Snapchat Scores Don’t Add Up?

You may notice after doing some quick math that simply adding together your number of Snaps sent and Snaps received results in a number that's less than your Snapchat score.

There could be several reasons why this is the case. It's possible that Snapchat's points allocation depends on how you send Snaps, not just the act of sending them.

Here's what we know: You get one point for each Snap sent to a user and an additional one for sending it. But keep in mind that no one knows Snapchat's formula.

How to Increase Your Snapchat Score

Snapchat isn't trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes. If you want to get your Snap score up, you need to use the app. So, your best bet for increasing your score is to use it as much as possible. With some dedication, you'll be breaking records in no time.

Here are more tips on increasing your score:

  • Send as many unique Snaps as you can. This is an easy way to rack up points, as you'll earn a point for each Snap sent. Note: Sending text messages won't increase your score.
  • Open Snaps from friends. Snapchat also rewards you for the Snaps you receive, so go dig through those unopened Snaps and start engaging with other users.
  • Upload Snaps to Stories. We all know one or more users that upload Snaps to their Stories daily. Chances are, their scores are high. There's no need to overthink it—adding Snaps to your Snapchat Stories can be as simple as sharing snippets of your day to push your score up.

With that being said, it's important to know some of the common misconceptions about adding to your Snapchat score.

  • Your Snapchat score will only increase by sending photo and video Snaps. Text messages sent through the Snapchat app do not count.
  • You don't get extra points for sending the same Snap to multiple users. You need to send a unique Snap to get a point.

Tip: When returning from a Snapchat hiatus, your first Snap sent will earn you six points. Don't waste time—get Snapping.

Can I Raise My Snapchat Score Online?

There are a lot of websites out there that promise they will add hundreds of thousands of points to your score. They make promises that sound too good to be true and guarantee that you will watch your Snapchat score increase in minutes.

Don't be fooled! All of these websites and apps are scams. Your Snapchat score cannot be modified by third-party apps or websites. You can only boost your Snapchat score by using the app—there are no easy workarounds or cheat codes for this feature.

How to Find Someone Else's Snapchat Score

Do you want to see how your score compares to a specific friend or celebrity? While there is no public leaderboard for Snapchat scores, you can check an individual's score with very little effort.

Go to the chat window and tap the friend's username. Then, tap their Bitmoji icon in the top-left corner of the screen. You'll land on their profile page with their Snap score shown below their Bitmoji.

If you can't see someone's Snap score, it's likely that they have removed you from their friends list or blocked you.

My Snapchat Score Isn't Updating: What Do I Do?

Lady in Kitchen Irritated with Cell Phone

Your Snap score can't go down, so don't worry about taking a break and losing your points. But if you've been using the app regularly and haven't noticed a change in your Snapchat score, don't panic! Here are some steps you can take to make sure all your effort isn't wasted:

  • Make sure your app is updated to the most recent version available.
  • Wait a few hours—it may just be a glitch or perhaps Snapchat is having technical issues. Restart your phone and check the score again in the morning.
  • Talk to Snapchat support. They might be able to help troubleshoot your individual situation.

How High Can Your Snapchat Score Go?

Given how popular Snapchat is, it may come as no surprise that many users have Snapchat scores in the hundreds of thousands. Of course, this does raise a question: Do you really want to have a systematic measure of how much time you've wasted on this app?

Like with any social media tool, you're likely going to enjoy Snapchat the most if you focus on using it to communicate with your friends. You'll all have a great time using the funny filters, and your score will increase with hardly any effort.