Today, do you get a better reach on Twitter/X or on Threads?

This blog post has been written by the person who has mapped all the strategies and examples in our cheatsheets

The battle between Twitter/X and Threads has intensified in 2025, with creators and businesses desperately seeking the platform that delivers superior reach and engagement.

Both platforms have undergone significant changes since Meta launched Threads in July 2023, creating new opportunities and challenges for content creators looking to maximize their audience growth. And if you need to fast-track your growth on X, check all our cheatsheets.

Summary

Threads currently delivers 73.6% higher engagement rates than Twitter/X, with organic reach averaging 6.25% compared to X's 0.15-1.6% range.

Metric Twitter/X Performance Threads Performance
Monthly Active Users 600-650 million users 320 million users (growing 12% monthly)
Average Engagement Rate 0.15-1.6% (micro accounts: 3-7%) 6.25% median (micro accounts: 4-8%)
Bot Traffic 60-85% of accounts potentially bots Lower bot presence due to Meta moderation
Conversion Rate 0.02% average (3.2x increase with threads) Higher due to 4.2% engagement vs X's 1.8%
Best Content Types Real-time news, video (8.3B daily views) Visual content, community discussions
Growth Trajectory 2.6% annual increase projected Could exceed X's user count by 2026
Monetization Options Established ad revenue sharing, subscriptions Limited but expanding with Meta integration

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What are the current user base sizes and demographics for Twitter/X versus Threads in 2025?

Twitter/X maintains a larger but slowly growing user base with 600-650 million monthly active users compared to Threads' rapidly expanding 320 million users.

The demographic split reveals crucial differences for content creators. Twitter/X skews heavily male (60.9% vs 39.1% female) with 58% of users under 35 years old, particularly concentrated in the 25-34 age range (37.5%) and 18-24 segment (32.1%). The platform maintains strong retention with 41% of users opening the app daily, translating to approximately 250 million daily active users.

Threads attracts a younger, Instagram-aligned demographic heavily weighted toward Millennials and Gen Z users. The platform's daily engagement remains lower at 23.9% of active users opening the app daily, but this figure has been steadily improving since launch. Threads added 20 million users between December 2024 and January 2025 alone, demonstrating momentum that could see it surpass Twitter/X's user count by 2026.

Geographic distribution favors Twitter/X in established markets, with the United States leading at 108 million users and Japan contributing 74.1 million users. Threads benefits from Meta's global infrastructure and Instagram's international presence, giving it stronger penetration in emerging markets where Instagram already dominates.

How much of each platform's reach comes from bots versus real users?

Bot traffic significantly distorts reach metrics on Twitter/X, with estimates ranging from 60-85% of accounts potentially being automated or fake.

Conservative estimates suggest 12-64% bot presence on Twitter/X, which translates to approximately 66.7-429 million bot accounts inflating impression numbers. A particularly damaging data point from Super Bowl weekend 2024 showed 75.85% of traffic from X to advertising clients' websites was identified as fake, raising serious questions about platform reach quality.

These bot networks create artificial engagement that skews organic reach calculations. When 60-85% of your audience might be automated accounts, the actual human reach of your content could be dramatically lower than reported metrics suggest. This means creators might see impressive impression numbers that don't translate to genuine audience growth or conversions.

Threads benefits from Meta's established moderation systems and newer infrastructure, resulting in significantly lower bot infiltration. The platform's integration with Instagram's verification processes and stricter content policies provide better protection against automated traffic. However, as Threads scales, maintaining this quality advantage will require continued investment in detection and prevention systems.

What is the organic reach percentage for different account sizes on each platform?

Threads delivers substantially higher organic reach across all account sizes, with micro-accounts seeing the most dramatic advantage over Twitter/X.

Account Size Twitter/X Organic Reach Threads Organic Reach
Micro (Under 10K) 3-7% engagement rate with higher visibility for trending content 4-8% engagement rate with consistent chronological feed exposure
Mid-tier (10K-100K) 1-3% engagement rate, algorithm favors real-time posting 3-6% engagement rate, benefits from community-focused algorithm
Large (100K+) 1-3% engagement rate, diminished organic reach requires trending topics 3-5% engagement rate, maintains visibility through meaningful conversations
Platform Average 0.15-1.6% overall, 1,425 average impressions per post 6.25% median engagement, 73.6% higher than Twitter/X
Growth Factors Real-time news, trending hashtags, viral content timing Instagram integration, community discussions, visual storytelling
Algorithm Priority Trending topics, engagement velocity, user interaction history Meaningful conversations, chronological feeds, cross-platform integration
Content Saturation High competition, requires perfect timing for visibility Lower content saturation provides better organic discovery

How do engagement rates vary across different content niches on both platforms?

Content niche performance reveals distinct platform advantages, with Twitter/X excelling in real-time and professional content while Threads dominates visual and community-driven niches.

Twitter/X shows strongest performance in tech and finance content due to its real-time news focus and professional user base. B2B marketing thrives on the platform, with 82% of B2B content marketers utilizing Twitter/X for thought leadership and industry discussions. Finance and crypto content benefits from the platform's news-breaking culture and trending topic integration.

Entertainment content faces intense competition on Twitter/X but gains significant visibility when tied to trending events or viral moments. The platform's algorithm heavily favors content that rides trending waves, making timing crucial for entertainment creators. Political commentary and news analysis perform exceptionally well during breaking news cycles.

Threads demonstrates superior performance across lifestyle, parenting, and entertainment niches, with engagement rates reaching 9.5% in educational categories. The platform's Instagram integration creates seamless cross-promotion opportunities for visual content creators. Community-driven discussions around parenting, wellness, and lifestyle topics achieve consistently higher engagement than their Twitter/X counterparts.

Educational content creators find Threads particularly rewarding, with the platform's longer character limit (500 vs 280) allowing for more detailed explanations and nuanced discussions. The community-first approach favors thoughtful content over quick reactions, benefiting creators who invest time in comprehensive posts.

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What are the typical engagement numbers creators can expect per post in 2025?

Engagement expectations vary dramatically between platforms, with Threads consistently delivering higher interaction rates across all account sizes and content types.

Twitter/X shows average impressions of 1,425 per post in 2025, representing a threefold increase year-over-year, but engagement rates remain disappointingly low. Micro-accounts typically see 10-50 likes and 2-8 comments per post, while mid-tier accounts (10K-50K followers) average 25-150 likes and 5-20 comments. Large accounts (100K+ followers) often struggle with engagement rates below 1%, requiring viral content or trending topic integration to achieve significant interaction.

Threads delivers consistently higher engagement across all metrics, with posts achieving median engagement rates of 6.25%. Micro-accounts regularly see 50-200 likes and 10-30 comments per post, while mid-tier accounts achieve 100-500 likes and 20-80 comments. Large accounts maintain 3-5% engagement rates, significantly outperforming their Twitter/X equivalents.

Video content dominates both platforms but shows different performance patterns. Twitter/X users watch 8.3 billion videos daily, with video tweets receiving up to 10 times more engagement than static posts. However, the platform's autoplay features can inflate view counts without meaningful engagement. Threads video content benefits from Instagram's sophisticated video algorithms and cross-platform sharing, often achieving higher completion rates and genuine interaction.

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How do click-through rates compare when linking to external content?

External link performance reveals significant differences in user behavior and platform algorithms, with both platforms presenting unique challenges for content creators driving traffic.

Twitter/X struggles with conversion metrics, showing notably low conversion rates of 0.02% for standard posts with external links. However, creators using strategic thread techniques see an average 3.2x increase in conversion rates. The platform's average click-through rates vary by industry, ranging from 0.78% for B2B content to 1.59% for retail, with video content consistently outperforming static posts for external traffic generation.

Link placement strategy matters significantly on Twitter/X. Links buried in threads or positioned after engaging content perform better than direct promotional posts. The platform's algorithm historically suppressed external link visibility, though recent changes have improved link post reach when combined with engaging native content.

Threads demonstrates higher engagement-to-conversion potential due to its 4.2% average engagement rate versus Twitter's 1.8%, though specific click-through rate data remains limited. The platform's Instagram integration provides seamless pathways for conversion through established shopping features and cross-platform user journeys. User-generated content receives more organic traction on Threads, and consumers show higher trust in peer recommendations, leading to improved conversion rates.

Content format significantly impacts click-through performance on both platforms. Text-based posts with compelling hooks outperform image posts with embedded links on Twitter/X, while Threads benefits from carousel posts and Instagram-style visual content that guides users toward external actions.

What conversion rates can creators expect when selling digital products?

Digital product sales conversion rates reveal the true monetization potential of each platform, with significant variations based on content strategy and audience building approach.

Twitter/X shows low baseline conversion rates of 0.02% for direct sales attempts, but creators who build authority through consistent threading and community engagement achieve substantially higher results. Successful creators report conversion rates of 0.5-2% when selling digital products to engaged followers, with thread-based content strategies showing the most promise for product promotion.

The platform excels for selling information products to professional audiences, particularly in tech, finance, and business niches. B2B creators selling courses, consulting, and digital tools benefit from Twitter/X's thought leadership culture and real-time engagement opportunities. However, cold traffic conversion remains challenging, requiring significant audience warming through valuable free content.

Threads demonstrates superior conversion potential through higher engagement rates and community trust factors. While specific conversion data remains limited due to the platform's newer status, creators report 2-4x higher conversion rates compared to their Twitter/X performance. The platform's Instagram integration allows for sophisticated sales funnels combining organic content, stories, and shopping features.

Product type significantly impacts conversion success. Educational content creators find higher conversion rates on Threads for lifestyle and personal development products, while Twitter/X remains superior for technical and business-focused digital products. The key difference lies in purchase decision factors: Threads users respond to community recommendations and visual proof, while Twitter/X users prefer data-driven arguments and thought leadership credibility.

Which platform performs better at different stages of the sales funnel?

Sales funnel performance analysis reveals that each platform dominates specific conversion stages, requiring strategic funnel design for optimal results.

At the impression and awareness stage, Twitter/X's larger user base (600-650 million vs 320 million) provides broader reach potential, but Threads' superior organic reach (6.25% vs 0.15-1.6%) often delivers more qualified impressions. Twitter/X excels for top-of-funnel awareness campaigns targeting trending topics and real-time events, while Threads builds stronger initial brand affinity through community-focused content.

Engagement stage performance heavily favors Threads, with 73.6% higher engagement rates creating more meaningful initial interactions. Twitter/X requires viral moments or trending topic participation to achieve comparable engagement levels, making consistent funnel performance challenging. Threads users show higher propensity for meaningful conversations and follow-up interactions.

Click-through performance depends heavily on content strategy and audience warming. Twitter/X achieves better click-through rates for authority-based content and thought leadership, while Threads excels for community-driven recommendations and peer influence. Both platforms struggle with cold traffic conversion, requiring substantial audience development before effective link promotion.

Checkout and conversion stages show mixed results based on product type and audience demographics. Twitter/X's professional user base converts better for B2B products and high-value services, while Threads' Instagram integration provides smoother conversion paths for consumer products and visual offerings. The key metric difference: Twitter/X users typically require more touch points before converting, while Threads users show faster decision-making when trust is established.

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Where are users spending money within each platform's ecosystem?

Monetization ecosystems differ significantly between platforms, with Twitter/X offering more established revenue streams while Threads leverages Meta's sophisticated advertising infrastructure.

Twitter/X users primarily spend money through subscription services, with X Premium generating revenue through verification and enhanced features. The platform's creator monetization program shares ad revenue with content creators, though payout rates remain inconsistent. Direct creator support through tips and subscriptions shows modest adoption, with most successful monetization happening through external product sales driven by platform audience building.

Content categories driving highest spending on Twitter/X include business education, investment advice, and technical training. Users show willingness to pay for exclusive content access, particularly in finance and cryptocurrency communities. However, the platform's monetization features remain underutilized compared to dedicated platforms like Patreon or Substack.

Threads benefits from Meta's sophisticated advertising ecosystem and Instagram shopping integration, though creator monetization features remain limited in 2025. Users primarily spend money through Instagram shopping links shared on Threads, creating indirect revenue streams for creators. The platform's community-focused approach builds stronger purchase intent for recommended products and services.

Cross-platform spending patterns show Threads users more likely to make impulse purchases based on community recommendations, while Twitter/X users prefer researched, data-backed purchase decisions. This fundamental difference impacts content strategy: Threads rewards authentic product recommendations and lifestyle integration, while Twitter/X favors analytical product reviews and comparison content.

How have platform metrics changed from 2024 to 2025?

Platform evolution from 2024 to 2025 reveals diverging trajectories, with Threads showing explosive growth while Twitter/X focuses on stabilization and feature development.

Twitter/X demonstrated significant improvement in engagement metrics, with average impressions per post increasing threefold from 2024 to 2025's 1,425 average. However, overall engagement rates remained flat at 0.15-1.6%, suggesting impression inflation without corresponding interaction quality improvement. The platform faced challenges with declining advertiser confidence and user experience concerns despite technical improvements.

User growth patterns show Twitter/X stabilizing at 2.6% annual growth, projected to reach 440.2 million users by end of 2025. Daily active user retention improved to 41% opening the app daily, but new user acquisition remained challenging. Content creator adoption of monetization features increased, though revenue per creator remained below expectations.

Threads experienced remarkable growth momentum, expanding from minimal market presence to 320 million monthly active users. The platform maintained 12% month-over-month growth while Twitter/X showed -3% monthly decline in certain regions. Engagement quality improved consistently, with median engagement rates reaching 6.25% and maintaining upward trajectory throughout 2024-2025.

Early indicators for 2026 suggest continued divergence, with Threads potentially exceeding Twitter/X's monthly user counts. Meta's advertising integration timeline and creator monetization program launches will significantly impact 2026 performance. Twitter/X's success depends on monetization feature adoption and user experience improvements addressing current friction points.

In which content scenarios does each platform have clear advantages?

Content scenario analysis reveals distinct platform strengths that creators should leverage based on their specific content goals and audience objectives.

  • Real-time news and breaking events: Twitter/X dominates with superior trending topic integration, real-time conversation capabilities, and established news consumption behaviors among users.
  • Community building and discussions: Threads excels through chronological feeds, longer-form content support (500 characters), and community-first algorithm prioritizing meaningful conversations over viral content.
  • Professional networking and B2B content: Twitter/X maintains advantages with 82% of B2B marketers actively using the platform, established thought leadership culture, and professional audience concentration.
  • Visual storytelling and lifestyle content: Threads leverages Instagram integration, superior engagement rates for visual content, and community-driven discovery mechanisms favoring authentic lifestyle sharing.
  • Educational content and tutorials: Threads shows 9.5% engagement rates in educational categories, benefiting from thoughtful discussion culture and reduced content saturation compared to Twitter/X's competitive environment.

Content timing strategies differ significantly between platforms. Twitter/X rewards immediate response to trending topics and breaking news, requiring creators to monitor current events and react quickly. Threads favors consistent, thoughtful content that builds community over time, with less emphasis on perfect timing and more focus on authentic engagement.

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How should creators choose between Twitter/X, Threads, or a hybrid approach?

Platform selection requires careful analysis of creator goals, target audience, and available resources, with hybrid strategies often delivering optimal results for established creators.

Choose Twitter/X as your primary platform when your goals include real-time thought leadership, B2B networking, or news-related content creation. The platform's established monetization tools, broader global reach (600M+ users), and advanced analytics make it suitable for creators seeking immediate revenue generation. Professional services, consulting, and information product creators benefit from Twitter/X's authority-building culture and established purchasing behaviors.

Prioritize Threads when community building, visual storytelling, or lifestyle content creation align with your strategy. The platform's 73.6% higher engagement rates, cleaner content environment, and Instagram ecosystem integration provide superior organic reach for emerging creators. Consumer product promotion, lifestyle brands, and educational content creators find better audience receptivity and conversion potential on Threads.

Hybrid strategies work best for creators with diverse content types and sufficient resources for multi-platform management. Successful hybrid approaches use Twitter/X for real-time commentary, news reactions, and professional positioning while leveraging Threads for community building, behind-the-scenes content, and deeper audience relationships. Content repurposing between platforms requires adaptation rather than direct cross-posting, as each platform's algorithm and user expectations differ significantly.

Resource allocation recommendations suggest 70/30 splits favoring your primary platform, with content specifically created for each platform's strengths rather than duplicate posting. Budget considerations should account for Threads' superior organic reach requiring less paid promotion, while Twitter/X's mature advertising tools may necessitate paid promotion for consistent visibility.

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Conclusion

Sources

  1. Exploding Topics - X User Statistics
  2. Cropink - X Twitter Statistics
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  23. Sprout Social - Twitter Statistics
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