Friend emojis are the little icons Snapchat puts next to names in your chat list. They're free for everyone, they're only visible to you, and they're built from the same data as your best friends list. Here's the full cheat sheet.
Best Friend Emojis
Gold heart
You're each other's #1 best friend.
Red heart
You've been #1 best friends for two weeks straight.
Pink hearts
You've been #1 best friends for two months straight — “super BFs”.
Smiling face
One of your best friends (but not #1).
Grimacing face
Your #1 best friend is also their #1 best friend. Awkward.
Smirking face
You're one of their best friends, but they're not one of yours.
Sunglasses
One of your best friends is also one of theirs.
Streak & Milestone Emojis
Fire
You're on a Snapstreak. The number shows how many days.
Hourglass
Your streak is about to end. Send a snap soon.
Hundred
You've hit a 100-day Snapstreak.
Baby
You just became friends.
Birthday cake
It's their birthday today.
Can You Change Your Snapchat Emojis?
Yes. Go to your profile, tap the gear icon for Settings, then find Customize Emojis. You can swap any friend emoji for another one — handy if the grimacing face feels a bit much. The meaning stays the same; only the icon changes, and only on your phone.
Friend Emojis vs Snapchat Planets
Emojis are free and describe your view of a friendship. Snapchat Planets are a Snapchat+ feature that show where you rank in someone else's top eight — Mercury for #1, Neptune for #8. Both come from the same activity, but they don't always line up: a friend can be your 😊 while you're their Saturn.
For the full picture of how the ranking works, read our best friends list guide. Emoji meanings occasionally change; Snapchat Support keeps the official list.