Twitter Clients Compared: 2009 Favourites and Best Options on X in 2026
Which are the best twitter clients, and do any of them still work? In 2009 we compared 8 popular desktop Twitter apps feature by feature. This updated guide keeps that comparison, explains what happened to each app, and shows what you can use to read and post on X (formerly Twitter) in 2026.
Quick answer: Most classic third-party Twitter clients are gone. Twitter changed its API rules in early 2023, which cut off apps like Twitterrific and Tweetbot. Today the main options are the official X app and website, X Pro (the old TweetDeck, now for paid Premium subscribers), and social media management tools that can schedule posts to X.
Table of Contents
The 8 Popular Twitter Clients of 2009
Twitter was growing fast in 2009, and many third-party desktop apps let you tweet, reply, send direct messages and follow several accounts without opening a browser. We scored each one on 15 features, including multiple accounts, direct messages, photo and video sharing, URL shortening, search, keyboard shortcuts and notifications. All were free.
| Client (2009) | Platform | Multiple accounts | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| TweetDeck | Mac + PC | No (added later) | 14-15/15 |
| Twhirl | Mac + PC | Yes | 15/15 |
| AlertThingy | Mac + PC | Yes | 14/15 |
| Seesmic Desktop | Mac + PC | Yes | 14/15 |
| OrSiSo | Mac + PC | Yes | 13/15 |
| Twitterrific | Mac | Yes | 12/15 |
| Nambu | Mac | Yes | 12/15 |
| Twitterified | Mac + PC | NA | 11/15 |
Twhirl scored a perfect 15 and TweetDeck was close behind. Photo sharing at the time mostly went through services like Twitpic, and video through Seesmic or 12seconds.
What Happened to These Twitter Clients
- TweetDeck was bought by Twitter in 2011. Its Windows app stopped working in 2016 and its Mac app in 2022. In 2023 it was renamed X Pro and became a feature for paid Premium subscribers.
- Twitterrific kept going for many years but shut down in January 2023, when Twitter blocked third-party clients.
- Twhirl, AlertThingy, Seesmic Desktop, OrSiSo, Nambu and Twitterified are no longer developed and do not work with today’s X.
Best Twitter Clients for X in 2026
- X (web and mobile app): the official app and website are now the main way to use the service, with lists, bookmarks, search and direct messages built in.
- X Pro: the successor to TweetDeck, with multiple columns for timelines, lists, searches and notifications. It needs a paid X Premium plan, and X has changed which tier includes it, so check the current plans before you pay.
- Hootsuite: a paid social media manager for scheduling posts to X and other networks from one dashboard.
- Buffer: a simpler scheduler for queuing posts across several social networks.
Tips for picking a Twitter client today
- Use the official app for everyday reading and replies; it gets new features first.
- Choose X Pro if you watch many searches or lists at once.
- Choose a scheduler if you manage brand accounts on several networks.
- Never give your X password to an unknown app. Use official sign-in only.
Bloggers can find more ideas in our list of Twitter tools for bloggers, and if X eats too much of your day, see how to block Twitter for a few hours daily.
FAQ
Do third-party Twitter clients still work?
Most do not. Twitter ended access for third-party client apps in early 2023, and popular apps such as Twitterrific shut down.
Is TweetDeck still free?
No. TweetDeck is now X Pro and requires a paid X Premium subscription.
What was the best Twitter client in 2009?
In our comparison Twhirl scored 15 out of 15, with TweetDeck close behind on 14-15.
Can I schedule posts on X?
Yes. X Pro and social media tools such as Hootsuite and Buffer let you schedule posts.
Originally written by guest author Srikanth, who wrote about tips, gadgets and technology on the Tech Inspiration blog (ekoob.com). Updated for 2026 by QuickOnlineTips.
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Good selection of Twitter clients are always happy to look after your review. Regards from Russia.
Didnt know about these…thanks a lot
Tweetdeck is the best twitter app ;)
Love it so much :*
yup. definitely everyone should check out destroy twitter. i think it’s better than tweetdeck. DT FTW!
It looks like Twirl wins it, although I haven’t used this app.
Seesmic Desktop does support multiple accounts. We have fixed the article to show that. Thanks everyone for catching that.
thanks for the great summary, seems TweetDeck is the leader at this market.
Where is Tweetie? I use it often I feel it is really good.
Good post but why does everyone leave off http://tweetgrid.com ? It has a lot of the same features and is web based.
Seesmic Desktop actually does support multiple accounts. Always has!
Nice Works. Thanks. You should indicate which version you have tested. The two lasts release of Seesmic Desktop support multiple Twitter accounts.
How & why does Tweetdeck & Twirl score the same when there’s a difference between them?
(Twirl handles multiple accounts & Tweetdeck doesn’t at the moment, just they said they will in some aribitary later version)
Seesmic does handle multiple accounts. I use it for this very purpose.