TweetDeck used to be the free way to watch X in columns: mentions in one, a search in another, a list of people you follow closely in a third. It isn't free any more. Twitter renamed it X Pro and put it behind a paid subscription in 2023, and in March 2026 X moved it to its most expensive plan, Premium+, at $40 a month at the time.
X has reshuffled its plans again since then, and reports from October 2026 put X Pro in a cheaper tier. Prices keep moving, so check X's Premium page before you decide. Either way, plenty of people who opened TweetDeck every morning are looking for something else. Here are the honest options on Windows, sorted by what you actually used TweetDeck for.
First: what did you use TweetDeck for?
TweetDeck did four jobs at once, and no single replacement does all of them well. Pick the one that matters most to you:
- Watching searches, hashtags or lists side by side.
- Answering mentions and replies quickly, without the home feed.
- Scheduling posts and threads for later.
- Teams: several people on one account, with reports.
1. X itself, with Lists, installed as an app (free)
The free option is closer than it looks. Put the accounts you follow closely into Lists, pin those lists so they show as tabs next to your home timeline, and save the searches you check often. Then install x.com as an app: in Edge, open the menu, choose Apps and Install this site as an app (Chrome has the same under Cast, save and share). X gets its own window and taskbar icon, away from your other tabs.
Good for: watching a few lists on a budget. Missing: side-by-side columns, and the home feed is always one click away.
2. X Pro (paid, the real TweetDeck)
If columns are the whole point, X Pro is still the original, and it's the only option that shows every kind of X column, including searches and lists, with X's own data. It runs in the browser at pro.x.com. You'll need the X plan that includes it, and it only covers X.
Good for: people who live in columns all day. Missing: a low price, and anything outside X.
3. Hootsuite (paid, columns for teams)
Hootsuite's streams are the closest thing to TweetDeck's layout, and they sit next to other networks. It's built for social media teams, with approvals, scheduling and reports, and it's priced for them. Since X tightened its API, third-party tools can't always show every kind of X stream, so check which ones your plan includes before you pay.
Good for: agencies and teams. Missing: a plan that makes sense for one person.
4. Buffer, Typefully or Hypefury (scheduling)
If you mostly used TweetDeck to queue posts, a scheduler is the better tool. Buffer is simple and covers several networks. Typefully and Hypefury are made for writing threads on X, with drafts and timing. None of them is a reading tool: you'll still need something to see who's talking to you.
Good for: writing and planning posts. Missing: columns and replies.
5. Sprout Social or Metricool (reports)
For teams that need reports for clients or managers, Sprout Social and Metricool combine a shared inbox, scheduling and analytics across networks. They're more than most single users need.
6. TopDock (mentions and replies on your Windows desktop)
If what you really used TweetDeck for was the Mentions column, there's a lighter way. TopDock is a slim bar for Windows 10 and 11 with a tile for X, next to your Gmail, Outlook and Reddit tiles. It shows a badge when someone mentions you or replies, and a click opens a panel with just those, newest first.
- Mentions and replies with profile pictures, and who liked, reposted or followed you, grouped.
- Reply in place or write a new post, then press Esc and get back to work.
- Pin one X conversation as its own tile when you're waiting for an answer.
- No feed, no scheduling and no automated posting: you write and send everything yourself.
It isn't a column dashboard: it won't track hashtags or searches. X charges developers for reading its API, so TopDock only fetches what's new and lets you choose how often it checks. More on the X and Reddit tiles.
The options side by side
| Option | Best for | Columns | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| X with Lists, as an app | Watching a few lists | Tabs, one at a time | Free |
| X Pro | Columns all day | Yes, every kind | Paid X plan |
| Hootsuite | Teams and agencies | Yes, streams | Paid, team pricing |
| Buffer, Typefully, Hypefury | Scheduling and threads | No | Free tiers, paid plans |
| Sprout Social, Metricool | Reports for teams | Shared inbox | Paid |
| TopDock | Answering mentions fast on Windows | No, a badge and a panel | Windows app |
Which one should you pick?
- You want it free: X with Lists, installed as an app.
- You need columns of searches and hashtags: X Pro, or Hootsuite if you're a team.
- You mostly scheduled posts: Buffer, Typefully or Hypefury.
- You only opened TweetDeck to answer people: a mentions badge like TopDock, so you don't open X at all until someone needs you.
The last group is bigger than it sounds. Many people kept TweetDeck open to avoid the home feed, not because they needed six columns. If that's you, keeping X closed and answering from a badge is calmer, and it works for your email too. Mentions you can't answer right away can become todos that link back to them.
Quick answers
Is TweetDeck still free?
No. TweetDeck was renamed X Pro and needs a paid X subscription. In March 2026 X moved it to its most expensive Premium+ plan, and X has reshuffled its plans since, so check X's Premium page for the current price.
Is there a TweetDeck app for Windows?
Not any more. Twitter retired the TweetDeck app for Windows in 2016. X Pro runs in the browser, and you can install x.com as an app from Edge or Chrome so it gets its own window and taskbar icon.
What's the best free TweetDeck alternative?
For most people: X itself, with Lists and saved searches, installed as an app from your browser. You lose side-by-side columns, but you keep the timelines that matter in a few clicks, at no cost.
Can TopDock schedule posts like Buffer or Hypefury?
No. TopDock shows your X mentions, replies and activity with a badge and lets you reply or post in place, but it never schedules or posts for you. If scheduling is the main thing you need, use a scheduler.
Comparing apps for email as well? See the best inbox apps for Windows, or how TopDock compares with Wavebox.