X (Formerly Twitter) Complete Guide 2026: Everything That Changed

If you've been wondering "what happened to Twitter?" you're not alone. In 2023, Twitter was officially rebranded to X (formerly Twitter) under Elon Musk's ownership. The change went far beyond a new name and logo. From algorithmic overhauls and new monetization models to an entirely different verification system, the platform formerly known as Twitter has transformed into something fundamentally different. This is the definitive guide to understanding everything that changed, what the X platform looks like in 2026, and how to succeed on it.

The Twitter to X Rebrand: Complete Timeline

The story of how Twitter changed to X is one of the most dramatic transformations in social media history. Here's exactly how it unfolded, from the initial acquisition to where we are today.

2022: The Acquisition

• April 2022: Elon Musk offers to buy Twitter for $44 billion, citing concerns about free speech and bot accounts
• July-October 2022: A protracted legal battle ensues as Musk attempts to back out of the deal, with Twitter suing to enforce the agreement
• October 27, 2022: The deal closes. Musk walks into Twitter HQ carrying a sink with the caption "let that sink in"
• Late 2022: Mass layoffs reduce Twitter's workforce by roughly 80%. Twitter Blue launches as a paid verification service at $8/month

2023: The Rebrand to X

• April 2023: Twitter, Inc. is officially merged into X Corp, a newly formed company under the X Holdings umbrella
• July 23, 2023: Musk unveils the new X logo, replacing the iconic blue bird that had represented Twitter since 2012
• July 24, 2023: The twitter.com domain begins redirecting to x.com. The rebrand is live
• September 2023: Twitter Blue is officially renamed to X Premium with new tier options
• Late 2023: The X platform introduces audio and video calling, long-form posts, and expanded creator monetization

2024: Stabilization and Growth

• Early 2024: X rolls out enhanced analytics tools and revamped advertising products
• Mid 2024: Grok, the AI chatbot built into X, receives major upgrades and becomes a core platform feature
• Late 2024: X payments infrastructure begins testing in limited markets, moving toward Musk's "everything app" vision

2025-2026: The X We Know Today

• 2025: X solidifies its position with deeper AI integration, expanded payment features, and a refined algorithm. Creator payouts grow substantially
• Early 2026: X (formerly Twitter) now operates as a markedly different platform from the Twitter of 2022. The "everything app" concept has taken tangible shape with payments, long-form content, AI, and media all under one roof

What Changed: X vs Twitter Feature-by-Feature

When people ask "what's the difference between X and Twitter?" the answer is: almost everything. While the core concept of short-form, public social posting remains, the feature set, business model, and user experience have all evolved significantly. Here is a thorough comparison of X vs Twitter across every major dimension.

Content and Post Format Changes

Character Limits

Old Twitter capped tweets at 280 characters for everyone. On the X platform, free users still get 280 characters (now called "posts" instead of "tweets"), but X Premium subscribers can write posts up to 25,000 characters. This fundamentally changes the type of content that thrives on the platform, with long-form threads and articles now being native to X.

Media and Rich Content

• Long-form articles with formatting, headers, and embedded media
• Longer video uploads (up to several hours for Premium+ subscribers vs. the old 2-minute limit for free users)
• Audio and video calling directly within the platform
• Built-in Grok AI assistant for content suggestions, summaries, and research
• Enhanced image and video editing tools within the composer

Terminology Changes

The language of the platform has shifted completely. Tweets are now "posts." Retweets are "reposts." The bird logo is gone, replaced by the X mark. Even the vocabulary of the community has evolved, though many users still colloquially refer to posting on "Twitter" out of habit. If someone says "Twitter now called X," they're describing the same platform with a fresh identity.

Algorithm Changes

One of the most significant shifts when Twitter changed to X was the algorithm. In March 2023, Twitter open-sourced its recommendation algorithm, giving the public an unprecedented look at how content was ranked. Since then, the X algorithm has continued evolving.

Key algorithmic changes from Twitter to X:

• Engagement velocity matters more: The speed at which a post accumulates likes, reposts, and replies in the first 30-60 minutes heavily influences its reach
• Reply quality is weighted: Thoughtful replies that generate further conversation boost a post's visibility more than simple "great post" responses
• Premium subscribers get a boost: Posts from X Premium users receive a ranking advantage in the For You feed, making paid subscription a growth lever
• Dwell time is a major signal: How long users spend reading your post (not just scrolling past it) significantly impacts distribution
• Bookmark signals matter: Bookmarks are treated as a strong positive signal, sometimes more powerful than likes
• Link penalties persist: Posts with external links tend to receive reduced distribution compared to native content. The algorithm favors keeping users on the platform

Monetization Changes

Old Twitter had minimal creator monetization. The X platform has made revenue sharing a central feature:

• Ad revenue sharing: Verified creators earn a share of ad revenue from ads shown in their post replies. This was essentially nonexistent on old Twitter
• Subscriptions: Creators can offer paid subscriptions to their followers for exclusive content, replacing the old Super Follows feature with a more robust system
• Tips and payments: X has expanded tipping and is building toward a full payments infrastructure
• Long-form content paywall: Premium+ creators can put articles behind paywalls, creating a Substack-like experience within X

API Changes

Perhaps the most controversial change when Twitter changed to X was the API overhaul. Old Twitter's API was largely free and powered an enormous ecosystem of third-party apps, research tools, and bots. Under X:

• Free tier is extremely limited: The free API tier allows only minimal read and write access
• Basic tier ($100/month): Provides moderate access suitable for small apps and personal projects
• Pro tier ($5,000/month): Designed for businesses and researchers needing substantial data access
• Enterprise tier (custom pricing): Full-scale access for large organizations

This pricing change effectively eliminated many beloved third-party Twitter clients and research tools. However, it also funded platform development and reduced bot activity. Tools like AutoTweet work within these new API constraints to provide scheduling, analytics, and automation features that comply with X's current terms of service.

X Premium and Verified: Understanding the New System

One of the biggest points of confusion in the X Twitter rebrand was the overhaul of the verification system. Here's how it works in 2026.

X Premium Tiers

X Premium (Basic) - $8/month (web) or $11/month (mobile)

• Blue checkmark verification badge
• Edit post functionality (within a time window after posting)
• Longer posts up to 25,000 characters
• Longer video uploads
• Reduced ads in the For You timeline
• Algorithmic ranking boost for posts
• Access to Grok AI chatbot
• Priority in search results and conversations

X Premium+ - $16/month (web) or $22/month (mobile)

• Everything in Premium
• Largest algorithmic ranking boost
• No ads in the For You and Following timelines
• Access to advanced Grok features
• Ability to write and publish X Articles
• Creator monetization eligibility (ad revenue sharing)
• Media Studio access for professional content tools

Verified Organizations - Starting at $200/month

• Gold checkmark for companies
• Affiliate badge system for employees
• Priority support
• Enhanced analytics and advertising tools
• Auto-verified for associated individual accounts

The Checkmark Colors Explained

• Blue checkmark: Paid X Premium subscriber (individual)
• Gold checkmark: Verified Organization (business/company)
• Grey checkmark: Government or multilateral organization

This is a stark departure from old Twitter, where the blue checkmark indicated identity verification by Twitter's team. On the X social media platform, the blue check primarily indicates a paying subscriber, though accounts must still meet minimum requirements (account age, phone number verification) to qualify.

New Features Unique to the X Platform

Beyond the rebrand cosmetics, X (formerly Twitter) has introduced several features that never existed on old Twitter. These are the innovations that truly differentiate the X platform from its predecessor.

Grok AI Integration

Perhaps the most significant addition to X is Grok, an AI assistant built directly into the platform. Unlike third-party AI tools, Grok has real-time access to posts on X, making it uniquely capable of analyzing trending conversations, summarizing threads, and providing up-to-the-minute context on current events.

• Summarize any conversation thread instantly
• Get context on trending topics without reading hundreds of posts
• Generate post drafts and content ideas based on trending topics
• Analyze engagement patterns and suggest improvements to your content strategy
• Real-time fact-checking and source attribution

X Articles

X Articles allow Premium+ subscribers to publish long-form content with rich formatting directly on the platform. Think of it as a built-in blogging tool. Articles support headers, images, embedded posts, and formatting, essentially making X a competitor to platforms like Medium and Substack.

Audio and Video Calling

X now supports voice and video calls between users, turning the platform into a communication tool that goes beyond public posting. This was never part of old Twitter's feature set and reflects Musk's vision of X as an "everything app."

X Spaces (Evolved)

Twitter Spaces existed before the rebrand, but the feature has been significantly expanded on X. Spaces now support video, screen sharing, and larger audiences. Creators can charge for access to premium Spaces, creating another monetization avenue.

Community Notes (Formerly Birdwatch)

Community Notes has become one of the most praised features of X (formerly Twitter). This crowdsourced fact-checking system allows users to add context to potentially misleading posts. Notes are rated by contributors across the political spectrum, and only appear when raters with diverse viewpoints agree on their helpfulness.

X Payments (In Development)

The long-anticipated payments feature is rolling out gradually. X has obtained money transmitter licenses in multiple U.S. states, with the goal of enabling peer-to-peer payments, creator tipping, and eventually broader financial services. This is the cornerstone of the "everything app" ambition.

How the X Algorithm Works in 2026

Understanding the X algorithm is critical for anyone looking to grow on the platform. While the core recommendation system was open-sourced in 2023, it has evolved considerably since then. Here's what we know about how the algorithm works on X (formerly Twitter) in 2026.

The Two Feeds

X has two primary content feeds:

• For You: An algorithmically curated feed that surfaces content X thinks you will find engaging, regardless of whether you follow the creator. This is where most discovery happens
• Following: A chronological feed of posts from accounts you follow. No algorithmic curation, though X Premium posts may still receive preferential positioning

Key Ranking Signals

The X algorithm evaluates posts based on several weighted signals:

1. Engagement velocity (highest weight): How quickly a post receives engagement in the first 30-60 minutes. Fast early engagement signals relevance and quality to the algorithm
2. Dwell time: How long users spend reading or viewing your post. A post that makes people stop scrolling is rewarded
3. Reply depth: Posts that generate multi-level conversation threads are boosted. The algorithm values genuine discussion over surface-level reactions
4. Bookmark rate: Bookmarks signal high-value content that users want to return to. Some analysis suggests bookmarks carry more weight than likes
5. Repost + quote post ratio: Reposts extend reach, but quote posts (where someone adds their own commentary) are weighted even more heavily
6. Profile authority: Accounts that consistently produce engaging content receive a baseline boost. This is built over time through a track record of high-performing posts
7. Premium status: X Premium subscribers receive a measurable ranking boost. This is openly stated by X and functions as a growth incentive for paid subscribers
8. Content freshness: Newer posts are preferred over older ones, though evergreen posts with sustained engagement can remain in circulation

What the Algorithm Penalizes

• External links in posts: Posts containing links to external websites consistently receive reduced distribution. Best practice is to put links in replies or use X Articles for long-form content
• Engagement bait: "Like if you agree" style posts are actively suppressed
• Duplicate content: Posting the same text repeatedly triggers spam detection and suppresses reach
• Rapid unfollowing: Follow-unfollow tactics are penalized and can lead to account restrictions
• Low-quality media: Blurry images, low-resolution video, and poorly formatted content receive lower engagement scores

Content Strategy for X (Formerly Twitter) in 2026

The shift from Twitter to X demands a shift in content strategy. What worked on old Twitter may not work on the X platform in 2026. Here's a modern approach to content creation on X.

Content Formats That Perform Best

1. Native Long-Form Posts

With the 25,000-character limit for Premium users, long-form posts that provide genuine value are thriving. Think detailed breakdowns, frameworks, and tutorials. These generate high dwell time, which the algorithm rewards.

2. Thread Posts

Despite the expanded character limit, threads remain incredibly effective. A compelling hook in the first post followed by a structured thread of 5-10 posts continues to be one of the highest-performing formats on X (formerly Twitter). Threads generate multiple engagement points and keep users on the platform longer.

3. Short-Form Video

Video content has become significantly more prominent on X. Short clips under 2 minutes that provide immediate value, entertainment, or insight tend to generate the highest engagement rates. X's video player improvements and full-screen viewing mode have made the platform more competitive with TikTok and Instagram Reels.

4. Visual Carousels and Infographics

Image-based posts, particularly multi-image carousels that users swipe through, generate strong dwell time signals. Data visualizations, step-by-step infographics, and comparison charts are especially effective for educational and B2B content.

5. Contrarian Takes and Hot Takes

The X algorithm rewards engagement depth. Well-reasoned contrarian opinions that spark genuine debate tend to generate significant reply depth and quote posts, both of which are heavily weighted by the algorithm.

Posting Frequency and Timing

On the X social media platform in 2026, consistency matters more than volume. Research suggests:

• Optimal frequency: 3-5 high-quality posts per day for growth-focused accounts
• Best days: Tuesday through Thursday consistently see the highest engagement
• Peak hours: 9-11 AM and 12-2 PM in your audience's primary timezone
• Reply engagement window: The first 30 minutes after posting are critical. Be present to respond to replies

Building an Audience From Scratch on X

1. Define your niche clearly: The X algorithm learns your content category quickly. Being consistent in your topic area helps the algorithm recommend you to the right audience
2. Engage authentically before promoting: Spend 30 minutes daily leaving thoughtful replies on posts from larger accounts in your niche. This exposes your profile to their audience
3. Create a content pillar system: Identify 3-4 core themes you consistently post about. Rotate between them to maintain variety while building topical authority
4. Leverage X Premium: The algorithmic boost from X Premium is real and measurable. For accounts focused on growth, the investment pays for itself in increased reach
5. Use scheduling tools: Consistency is king on X. Tools like AutoTweet allow you to maintain a steady posting schedule without being glued to your phone

Monetization on X (Formerly Twitter) in 2026

One of the most meaningful differences between X and Twitter is the ability for creators to earn money directly from the platform. Here are the primary monetization paths available on the X platform.

Ad Revenue Sharing

X shares advertising revenue with verified creators whose posts generate significant impressions. To qualify, you need:

• X Premium or Premium+ subscription
• At least 500 followers
• Minimum of 5 million organic impressions on posts in the last 3 months
• A Stripe account connected to receive payments

Payouts vary, but creators with consistent high-engagement content report earning anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars monthly. The revenue comes from ads displayed in the reply sections of your posts.

Subscriptions

Creators can offer monthly subscriptions to followers who want exclusive content. You set your own price and create subscriber-only posts, Spaces, and communities. This is ideal for educators, analysts, and creators with a dedicated audience willing to pay for premium insights.

X Articles With Paywalls

Premium+ subscribers can publish long-form articles and put them behind a paywall. Readers pay a one-time fee to access individual articles or subscribe to your content. This positions X as a direct competitor to newsletter platforms and makes it possible to build a publishing business entirely within the X ecosystem.

Tips

The tipping feature allows followers to send one-time payments to creators they appreciate. X supports multiple payment providers and cryptocurrencies for tips, making it accessible to a global audience.

Affiliate and Sponsorship Opportunities

While not a built-in X feature, the platform's reach makes it highly valuable for affiliate marketing and brand sponsorships. Creators with engaged audiences can command significant sponsorship rates. The key is to partner with brands that align with your content niche and disclose partnerships transparently.

Best Tools for X (Formerly Twitter) in 2026

The right tools can dramatically accelerate your success on the X platform. Here are the categories of tools every serious X user should consider.

Scheduling and Automation

• AutoTweet: AI-powered post generation, optimal-time scheduling based on your audience analytics, thread creation, and performance tracking. Designed specifically for the X platform with features that leverage the current algorithm
• Buffer: Simple queue-based scheduling across multiple social platforms
• Hootsuite: Enterprise-level management for teams handling multiple X accounts
• Typefully: Thread-focused writing and scheduling tool with collaborative features

Analytics and Insights

• X Analytics (built-in): Free performance data including impressions, engagement rates, and follower demographics
• AutoTweet Analytics: Deeper insights into optimal posting times, content performance trends, and audience growth analytics with AI-powered recommendations
• Followerwonk: Audience analysis, follower comparison, and activity optimization

Content Creation

• AutoTweet AI Writer: Generate post ideas, draft threads, and create content variations based on your niche and voice
• Canva: Visual content creation for images, infographics, and carousels
• CapCut: Video editing for short-form video content optimized for X
• Grok (built into X): AI-powered content brainstorming and trend analysis directly within the platform

Community and Engagement

• X Lists: Organize accounts into lists by category to streamline your engagement strategy
• X Communities: Join or create topic-specific communities for focused discussion and networking
• TweetDeck (X Pro): Multi-column interface for power users managing engagement across multiple conversations

Frequently Asked Questions About X (Formerly Twitter)

Is X the same as Twitter?

X is the rebranded version of Twitter. The same company operates the platform and your old Twitter account, followers, and posts all carried over to X. However, the features, algorithm, monetization model, and user experience have changed significantly since the rebrand. Saying "Twitter now called X" is accurate, but X in 2026 is a substantially different product than Twitter was in 2022.

Why did Twitter change to X?

Elon Musk rebranded Twitter to X as part of his vision to transform the platform into an "everything app" inspired by China's WeChat. The X brand represents a broader ambition beyond social media, encompassing payments, commerce, media, and AI. The letter X also has personal significance to Musk, who founded X.com (which later became PayPal) in 1999 and has used the X brand across multiple ventures.

Do I need X Premium to succeed on the platform?

Not strictly, but it helps significantly. X Premium provides a measurable algorithmic boost, longer posts, and access to tools like Grok that give subscribers a competitive advantage. For professionals and creators building a brand on X, the $8-16/month investment is generally worthwhile. Free users can still grow, but the ceiling is lower without Premium features.

Is the blue checkmark still meaningful?

The blue checkmark on X indicates a paid subscriber, not identity verification as it did on old Twitter. Some users view it as a status symbol, while others see it as simply a subscription badge. Its practical value lies in the features it unlocks (longer posts, algorithm boost, edit functionality) rather than verification credibility.

Can I still use third-party apps with X?

Yes, but the landscape is more limited than old Twitter's third-party ecosystem. Due to API pricing changes, many legacy Twitter apps were shut down. However, tools built for the current X API structure, like AutoTweet, offer scheduling, analytics, and automation features that work within the platform's guidelines.

How do I get monetized on X?

To join X's ad revenue sharing program, you need an X Premium subscription, at least 500 followers, and 5 million organic impressions in the past 3 months. Focus on creating consistently engaging content, growing your follower base, and maintaining a high impression count. Subscriptions and article paywalls are additional monetization options available to Premium+ users.

Conclusion: Thriving on X in 2026

The transition from Twitter to X has been one of the most significant transformations in social media history. Whether you still call it Twitter out of habit or have fully embraced the X brand, one thing is clear: the platform in 2026 offers more opportunities than ever for creators, businesses, and individuals who understand how to use it effectively.

The X social media platform rewards consistency, authenticity, and strategic thinking. The algorithm favors content that sparks genuine engagement. The monetization features make it possible to build a real income stream from your audience. And the tools available today, from AI-powered content creation to intelligent scheduling, make it easier than ever to maintain a professional presence without spending hours every day on the platform.

Key takeaways from this guide:

• X (formerly Twitter) has changed fundamentally since the 2023 rebrand in terms of features, algorithm, and business model
• X Premium provides meaningful advantages for growth and monetization
• The algorithm prioritizes engagement velocity, dwell time, and reply depth
• Native content (without external links) performs significantly better
• Monetization paths include ad revenue sharing, subscriptions, articles, and tips
• Scheduling and automation tools are essential for consistent growth

The users who succeed on X in 2026 are those who adapt to the platform as it is today rather than wishing for what Twitter used to be. Embrace the new features, understand the algorithm, and build your strategy around how the X platform actually works.