Twitter vs. Threads: Features, Functionality, and More

Twitter vs. Threads: What’s all this hype about?!

Meta recently introduced a new app for the world of social media to go crazy for– Threads. It was recently released on June 6, 2023 as a competitor for Twitter, where users share text updates called “threads”.

It’s quite similar to Twitter, but with a little bit of difference on how to use the platform, and that’s what we’ll discuss in this blog.

What is ‘Threads’, and how do I use it?

Threads is an app where Instagram users (since you need an Instagram account to sign up), share and interact with other’s text posts. The app is quite similar to Twitter, with a character limit, multimedia postings, and usernames.

Step 1: Download the app from the App Store or Google Play. Threads is a separate app from Instagram despite it being connected, so you would have to download the app and log in from there.

Step 2: Log in with Instagram. Threads is linked with Instagram, so you just have to click the continue button to start using the app.

Step 3: Customize your profile. Although you’re using your Instagram account, you can still add a bio, profile picture, and a link to your profile before heading into your Threads feed.

Step 4: Set your privacy preferences. Just like Twitter and Instagram, Threads gives you the option to have your account set to public or private.

Step 5: Follow accounts and start commenting. When you start using Threads, the app would show random content (just like your TikTok FYP in the beginning). Once you start following and interacting with other accounts, you can curate your feed to your liking.

To make a thread, simply click on ‘New Thread’ and start typing.

Bonus: The Definitive Guide to Instagram Threads : Character Limit, Tips & Examples

Top 8 Differences between Threads and Twitter

If you’re debating on what social media platform to use or you’re just curious about the differences between the two, here are the top differences between Twitter vs. Threads.

1. Availability

Twitter has been in the social media world for over 17 years now, so it has adapted to the fast demands of technology. Twitter is easily accessible through the web, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, mobile readers (e.g. Kindle), and others.

However, with Threads being fairly new, the Twitter alternative can only be accessed through a smartphone or a tablet. The Twitter competitor isn’t available in the European Union as well due to some privacy concerns.

2. Character Limit and Drafts

Twitter is known for first having 140 characters and then 280. But Threads has a character limit of 500, which gives its users more space to share their thoughts and ideas on the platform.

And when you need to save a post for later, Twitter has the option to draft a tweet, but with Threads, drafts aren’t available yet.

3. No in-app messaging nor Hashtags

In Threads, users aren’t allowed to message one another since there’s no messaging feature on the platform. A user can only communicate through comments.

Another difference in the Twitter competitor is the disappearance of hashtags (a vital part of Twitter!).

4. Multimedia postings

Both platforms allow postings of various multimedia forms (videos, images, links, and GIFs), but it’s a bit more complicated with Threads. If a user wants to post a GIF, it has to be saved first before being able to post it.

Threads:

• Uploaded videos can be up to 5 minutes
• Up to 10 photos in one comment

Twitter:

• Can upload videos up to 2 minutes and 20 seconds
• Up to 4 photos, videos, or GIFs in one tweet

5. Syncing accounts and verification

Logging in on Twitter is a bit more simple since it’s an independent app. A user can create an account with an email, phone number, or just a username. But with Threads, it’s not possible to create an account without one from Instagram.

Twitter has Twitter Blue, a paid premium subscription for users that adds a blue checkmark and various features that non-paid users have access to.

On Threads, a user is verified as long as the linked Instagram account is verified too. Similarly, the Twitter alternative has Meta Verified which includes a verified badge, increased account protection, unique stickers, and faster support.

Pricing:

Twitter Blue: $8/month or $84/year

Meta Verified: $14.99/month

Bonus: Twitter Spaces: How To Use Them To Grow Your Brand

6. Changing usernames

A user can change their username to whatever they like on Twitter, as long as it’s not taken yet. In Threads, the username is decided by the Instagram username. So, the only way to change a Threads username is to change Instagram’s too.

Bonus: 80+ Catchy Instagram Username Ideas You Can Steal

7. Searching

With Twitter being an older app, it has more options for searching tweets, accounts, and hashtags. Twitter also has an ‘Advanced Search’ feature where you can search for a specific word, phrase, or hashtag used in a tweet or bio. It can also search for specific accounts, tweets with links, replies, or original tweets.

Conversely, Threads only lets you search for accounts.

8. Trending Topics

Twitter has a ‘Trending Topics’ section where worldwide top gossip and breaking news are shown. It’s a convenient way to look at the news and see what’s literally trending in the social media world. This is one of the features that Threads lack.

The Verdict on Twitter vs. Threads

Basically, both Twitter and Threads have the same concept, but Twitter has a bit of leverage with it being in the industry for much longer than Threads. However, with how fast Meta moves with giving updates, it’s no doubt that Threads can catch up anytime soon.

If you need that extra kick to mark your branding on Twitter and Threads, use an efficient social media management tool, like Simplified! It’s an all-in-one AI-powered tool with a graphic design and video editing tool, AI writer, team collaboration features, and schedule post.

Drafting tweets is easy with Simplified’s AI writer, complete with 10+ tones of voice, 30+ languages, over 90+ AI templates, a Long Form Writer (for full-length blogs!), a sentence expander, and an AI paragraph generator

Then if you feel like the written text isn’t enough, amp up your game with Simplified’s AI text-to-image generator or with the AI photo animation tool.

And once you have your tweets ready, effortlessly schedule post tweets with Simplified’s Twitter Scheduler. You can schedule up to 10,000 tweets, manage multiple accounts, work with numerous team members, and do all these from your laptop or the mobile app.

Simplified is complete with everything that you may need for both platforms. So, what are you waiting for? Try it out and make the most out of Twitter and Threads today.