Twitter recently launched its new premium subscription service called “Twitter Blue”. This has led many regular Twitter users to wonder – what exactly is Twitter Blue and how does comparison between Twitter Blue and regular Twitter?
In this guide, we will do a comprehensive feature-by-feature Comparison between Twitter Blue and regular Twitter to help you understand the key differences.
Table of Contents
What is Twitter Blue?
- Twitter Blue is a new optional subscription service that offers premium features and perks.
- It costs $2.99 per month on the web and $4.99 per month on iOS.
- Subscribers get access to exclusive tools not available to regular users.
Also read: What is Twitter Blue?
Key Features of Twitter Blue
Here are some of the main features that Twitter Blue offers:
- Undo Tweet – Preview and revoke tweets before anyone else sees them. This gives you 30 seconds to undo accidental or errored tweets.
- Reader Mode – Converts long threads into easy-to-read text for better readability.
- Custom App Icons – Change your Twitter app icon on mobile to one of the provided custom options.
- Customizable Navigation Bar – Choose what shortcuts appear in your bottom navigation bar for quick access.
- Top Articles – See curated top articles from people you follow directly in your timeline.
- Longer Video Upload – Upload videos up to 10 minutes long instead of the regular 2:20 limit.
- Perks – Get exclusive deals and offers from select brands and publishers.
Also read: Features of Twitter Blue service
Key Comparison between Twitter Blue and Regular Twitter
Twitter recently launched its premium subscription service called Twitter Blue. This has led many regular Twitter users to wonder – what exactly is Twitter Blue and how does it compare to the free regular Twitter experience?
Below is a table summarizing the key differences between Twitter Blue and regular Twitter based on the latest details:
| Feature | Twitter Blue | Regular Twitter |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $8/month web, $11/month iOS/Android | Free |
| Blue verification badge | Yes | No |
| Edit tweets | Yes, within 30 mins of posting | No |
| Undo tweets | Yes, within 30 secs of posting | No |
| Longer tweets | Up to 4,000 characters | Up to 280 characters |
| Longer videos | Up to 10 minutes | Up to 2:20 minutes |
| Fewer ads | Yes, about 50% fewer ads | No, full ads |
| Reader mode | Yes | No |
| Customizable app icons | Yes | No |
| Customizable navigation bar | Yes | No |
| Bookmark folders | Yes | No |
| Priority replies | Yes | No |
| Exclusive perks | Yes | No |
As the table shows, Twitter Blue offers a robust set of exclusive premium features including edit and undo tweets, increased character and video limits, reduced ads, customizations, bookmark folders, prioritized replies, and perks.
However, it comes at a monthly subscription cost, while regular Twitter remains free with the standard functionality. The blue verification badge is the main marker of a Twitter Blue subscription.
Some key advantages of Twitter Blue:
- Ability to fix typos and errors in tweets after posting
- Increased room for expression with 4x longer tweets and videos
- Less clutter in timelines with 50% fewer ads
- Customized experience with navigation bar and app icons
- Better organized saved content with bookmark folders
- More visibility with prioritized replies
For heavy Twitter users who tweet frequently and want more control, Twitter Blue can be worth the subscription cost. But for casual users who just read tweets, regular Twitter likely remains sufficient.
In summary, Twitter Blue augments the Twitter experience for power users willing to pay, while regular Twitter offers a free experience catering to the masses. The additional features and customizations are the main differentiators that set Twitter Blue apart.
Who Can Subscribe to Twitter Blue?
While anyone can subscribe by paying the monthly fee, there are some geographic restrictions on availability:
- Currently only available in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
- Twitter has plans to expand to other countries like the United Kingdom, Japan, and Brazil soon.
- Must have a valid Twitter account in an eligible country to subscribe.
Also read: How to subscribe to Twitter Blue
Should You Upgrade to Twitter Blue?
Whether upgrading to Twitter Blue is worth it depends on your Twitter usage patterns and interests:
Twitter Blue is Worth it for:
- Heavy Twitter users who want more features
- People who tweet frequently from mobile
- Those who often regret tweets and want to undo them
- Users who get annoyed by too many ads
- People who enjoy customizing their experience
Twitter Blue May not be worth it for:
- Light Twitter users or just read tweets
- Those satisfied with the free experience
- People who rarely tweet from mobile
- Users not bothered by standard ads
- Those who don’t care about custom icons or navigation
Signing Up for Twitter Blue
If Twitter Blue sounds useful for you, here is how to subscribe:
- Open Twitter on mobile (iOS or Android) or desktop web.
- Go to your Twitter Profile.
- Tap/click on the Twitter Blue section.
- Select your preferred plan (monthly or annual) and tap “Subscribe”.
- Enter your payment method details and follow the prompts.
Your Twitter Blue subscription will be activated instantly! You can then access all included premium features.
Tips for Using Twitter Blue Effectively
Here are some tips to maximize the value of your Twitter Blue subscription:
- Take full advantage of Undo Tweet to preview and fix tweets before posting. But don’t over-rely on it.
- Change your app icon regularly to give your Twitter a fresh new look.
- Use Top Articles and Bookmark Folders to organize and save content you want to read later.
- Add sections like Notifications and Messages to your navigation bar for quick access.
- Upload longer videos up to 10 minutes to share more engaging content.
- Enable Reader Mode when reading long threads to avoid losing your place.
- Check for Twitter Blue subscriber perks and deals for discounts from brands.
Twitter Blue vs Twitter Verified
Twitter Blue is different from having a verified account badge. Here’s how they compare:
- Twitter Blue is a paid subscription with extra features. Verified is a free account status.
- Getting Twitter Blue does not get you a verified badge automatically.
- The blue verified badge is earned by meeting Twitter’s notability and authenticity criteria.
- Subscribing to Twitter Blue displays a subscriber badge on your profile, not a verify badge.
So essentially, Twitter Blue gives premium features while verification simply confirms an account’s authenticity. They are completely separate things.
Can Free Users Get Twitter Blue Features?
Most features exclusive to Twitter Blue are not accessible to free regular Twitter users including:
- Undo Tweet
- Custom App Icons
- Longer Videos
- Top Articles
- Ad-Free Reading
- Prioritized Notifications
- Custom Nav Bar
However, some features like Reader Mode and Bookmark Folders are available to all users through alternative methods:
-Reader Mode can be enabled through third-party Twitter apps like Tweetbot.
-Bookmark Folders are available via third-party tools like Listener.
But native access within Twitter is only for paid Blue subscribers.
What Features Might Regular Twitter Add?
Based on customer feedback, here are some Twitter Blue features that regular Twitter could add in the future:
- Lowering the default tweet character limit from 280 to match the 4000 for subscribers.
- Letting all users undo tweets within a short time window after posting.
- Giving some basic navigation bar customization options.
- Adding a small number of default bookmark folders for organizing saved tweets.
- Providing toggle for reader mode to simplify reading long threads.
- Allowing all users to upload slightly longer videos beyond the 2:20 limit.
- Offering some predetermined alternate app icons not linked to subscriptions.
What Features Will Stay Paid?
Certain exclusive features will likely stay behind the Twitter Blue paywall including:
- No ads for subscribers – ads are key revenue source.
- Top Articles curation requires deals with news publishers.
- Custom icons and badges are awarded to paid subscribers only.
- Prioritized notifications to highlight subscriber content.
- Unlimited bookmarks and folder creation exceeds base limits.
- Subscriber discounts and perks from brands.
So while Twitter may extend some functionality to regular users, premium tier features will still incentivize Twitter Blue subscriptions.
The Future of Twitter Blue
Twitter Blue is still in the early stages, so where does it go from here? Some possibilities:
Expanding Availability
Twitter Blue is currently limited to 4 countries. Expanding globally to major markets like the UK, Japan, and India will grow the subscriber base.
Adding New Features
Additional features like analytics, profile customizations, live events, audio rooms, and more could make Twitter Blue more compelling.
Lower Price Points
Making Twitter Blue more affordable through lower pricing tiers, regional pricing, and annual discounts can increase adoption in price-sensitive markets.
Tighter Integration
Integrating Twitter Blue deeper into the main Twitter product through exclusive tabs, profiles, mentions, etc can strengthen its value proposition.
Partnerships and Perks
More partnerships with brands on exclusive deals and subscriber perks can improve the benefits of a Blue subscription.
While still early, Twitter Blue lays the foundation for future premium and subscription offerings on Twitter’s platform.
Conclusion
That summarizes the key differences between the new Twitter Blue subscription and the free regular Twitter experience. While they share a common foundation, Twitter Blue unlocks a robust set of exclusive tools for power users willing to pay, while retaining a free option for the masses.
Hopefully, this guide has helped you gain clarity on what Twitter Blue offers compared to the standard functionality on Twitter. Use the knowledge to decide if upgrading to Twitter Blue is worth the monthly fee based on how you use Twitter.
