Want the added features and blue checkmark on X for a lower price? Find out how to save 28% when you subscribe to X Premium (née Twitter Blue) on your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone.
Difference in price
When I go to the X iOS or Android app and try to purchase the Premium plan, the amount shown is $114.99 for the year or $11 per month. But when I try to subscribe directly from X.com in a web browser, it’s $84 for the year or $8 per month! That’s about 28% cheaper!
This difference is also visible in other countries where the amount is displayed in the local currency.
The difference in the subscription price between the X mobile app and X.com in a web browser is even noticeable in other premium tiers, namely the cheapest Basic plan and the most expensive Premium+ plan:
- Basic monthly plan: Mobile ($4) | Web ($3)
- Basic annual plan: Mobile ($42) | Web ($32)
- Premium+ monthly plan: Mobile ($50) | Web ($40)
- Premium+ annual plan: Mobile ($490) | Web ($395)
Why this huge price difference?
Both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store charge app developers up to 30% in fees when people buy apps or make in-app purchases. This is because Apple and Google handle the payment backend, host the apps, and offer a platform for app distribution, taking a cut of all app sales and subscriptions.
What do iOS apps do to stop paying 30% commission?
- Rebel: To prevent giving Apple the 30% cut, some apps like Netflix and Spotify simply don’t offer a way to purchase premium plans inside their apps.
- Deal: Some larger players like Amazon have also been known to make special deals with Apple or reach for a symbiotic consensus for lower fees.
- Increase the price: Finally, some developers like X, Grammarly, and YouTube just pass on the App Store commission fee to the customer when you purchase them from inside the app. But, when you purchase directly from their website, the price is significantly lower.
Get X Premium for cheaper
Don’t use the X app to buy the premium subscription. Instead, use a web browser on your computer or mobile phone to get the same features at a lower price. Here’s how:
- Visit x.com in a web browser on your iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Mac, or Windows PC.
- Tap your profile picture and select Premium.
- You’ll see the lower price for both Annual and Monthly plans. The yearly plan further offers you a 12% discount compared to the monthly option. Select one and tap the Subscribe button.
- Next, follow the steps to complete your payment on the Stripe checkout page using your credit card or other available payment methods.
Can’t buy X Premium in a web browser?
Here’s what to do if you cannot subscribe to X Premium for cheap:
- Turn off iCloud Private Relay: If you can go past step 4, turn off iCloud Private Relay or disable the active VPN if you’re using one.
- Use Chrome: If payment fails when using Safari, try Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
- Check your card details: Make sure your card is active and allowed to make both domestic and international payments. Check the limits section of your bank app to manage your card’s limits. Secondly, enter the correct details, like the card PIN, for Stripe to complete your transaction successfully. If all else fails, try using another Visa, Mastercard, or American Express credit or debit card.
More money-saving tips: