Is Threads owned by the same company as Twitter?

No. Threads is made by Meta and is tied to Instagram. X, formerly Twitter, is owned by Elon Musk. They are separate companies and separate apps.

Which lets you write more, Threads or X?

Threads. A Threads post allows 500 characters versus 280 on X. Threads also has a free 10,000-character text attachment, while X charges for longer posts.

Do you need Instagram to use Threads?

Yes. You sign in to Threads with an Instagram account, and your username and follows can carry over. X does not require another account.

Which is bigger, Threads or X?

It depends on the measure. In early 2026 Threads passed X in daily mobile users, about 141 million to 125 million. X still leads in total monthly users, roughly 550 million to Threads' 400 million, and in web traffic. So Threads is ahead on daily mobile use, while X is still larger overall.

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Threads vs Twitter (X): The Real Differences

June 14, 2026

Threads and X (formerly Twitter) look alike at a glance: short text posts, replies, a feed. But they are run by different companies and feel different to use. Here is what actually sets them apart.

Who owns them

Threads is made by Meta and is part of Instagram. You sign in with an Instagram account, and your username and follows come along. X is owned by Elon Musk and stands on its own. That ownership shapes the vibe: Threads leans on the Instagram crowd and aims for lighter conversation, while X is the home of real-time news and debate.

Character limits

This is the clearest difference for writers:

Threads: 500 characters per post, plus a free text attachment up to 10,000 characters.
X: 280 characters on the free tier; longer posts up to 25,000 characters require a paid subscription.

So if you like a little more room to write, Threads gives it to you without paying. For the full breakdown, see our guide to the Threads character limit.

Features that differ

Editing: Threads lets you edit a post within 15 minutes. On X, editing needs a paid plan.
Feeds: Threads has a chronological Following feed and an algorithmic For You feed. If you want to understand the ranking side, read how the Threads algorithm works.
Tags: Threads uses topic tags, one per post, instead of the open hashtag system X uses. More on that in do hashtags work on Threads.

Audience

The race is closer than it used to be. In early 2026 Threads passed X in daily mobile users, around 141 million a day to X's 125 million, after riding Instagram's reach and steady growth. X still leads on the wider measures: it has more total monthly users, roughly 550 million to Threads' 400 million, and far more web traffic, since most people who open X do it in a browser while Threads is used mostly in the app. X also remains the go-to for breaking news and fast debate.

Which should you post on?

If your audience already follows you on Instagram, or you want a calmer, conversation-first space with more room to write, Threads is the easier place to grow. If you live on breaking news and fast back-and-forth, X still owns that. Plenty of creators post to both. If you do, our guide on how to grow on Threads covers what works specifically there.