If you're asking "does X Premium increase followers" or "does X Premium boost engagement," you're not alone. The platform's algorithm changes and premium feature announcements have left many creators wondering whether paying for Premium actually delivers measurable results.

The answer, backed by Buffer's analysis of 18.8 million posts across 71,000 accounts, is clear: Premium accounts receive approximately 10 times more reach per post than regular accounts. But reach alone doesn't guarantee growth. Understanding how Premium affects visibility, engagement, and follower acquisition requires examining the data directly.

The Study: Analyzing 18.8 Million Posts

To answer "does X Premium or Premium+ increase followers or visibility on Twitter/X," we need data, not anecdotes. Buffer's study analyzed 18.8 million posts from 71,000 X accounts between August 2024 and August 2025 to measure how Premium subscriptions affect performance.

The results reveal a significant divide between Premium and regular accounts. This isn't about features anymore. It's about distribution.

Does X Premium Increase Reach?

Yes. Premium accounts get around 10 times more reach per post than regular accounts.

The data shows a clear hierarchy:

• Regular accounts: Typically under 100 impressions per post
• Premium Basic: Small lift above non-subscribers, but still limited reach
• Premium: Closer to 600 impressions per post
• Premium+: Often more than double Premium accounts, exceeding 1,550 impressions per post

This gap has been consistent over the past year but became especially pronounced in 2025, when Premium+ accounts began pulling further ahead. The scale of the difference suggests that Premium tiers benefit from built-in distribution advantages, consistent with what X has outlined in its algorithm documentation.

What this means: If you're asking "does Twitter Premium increase reach," the answer is yes. Premium provides a stronger baseline for visibility, but the magnitude of that boost varies significantly by tier.

Does X Premium Boost Engagement?

Engagement rates show a different pattern than reach. Premium accounts see higher engagement, but the difference is smaller than the reach gap.

Engagement rate findings:

• Premium Basic: Leads slightly with a median engagement rate around 0.55% per post
• Premium+: Close behind at 0.53%
• Premium: Marginally lower at around 0.49%
• Regular accounts: Median engagement rate of 0%, meaning at least half receive no visible interaction on a typical post

Interestingly, Premium Basic appears to "punch above its weight" on engagement, even without the broader visibility that comes with higher tiers. However, without the same reach, those engagement gains may be less impactful overall.

The key insight: Premium boosts engagement, but content quality still determines whether that engagement translates into meaningful growth. Premium amplifies good content; it doesn't create it.

Which X Premium Tier Is Best for Growth?

Premium isn't a single upgrade. It comes in three tiers, and the differences show up in both features and performance.

Premium Basic ($3/month)

Features:

• Editing posts
• Longer posts (up to 25,000 characters)
• Longer video uploads (3 hours/8GB)
• Bold/italic text formatting
• Bookmark folders
• Create communities
• Custom app icons
• Modest reply prioritization

Performance impact: Little to no measurable reach or engagement lift compared to free accounts.

Best for: Users who want basic features without paying for full visibility.

Premium ($8/month)

Features:

• All Basic features
• Monetization (ads revenue sharing, creator subscriptions)
• Media Studio
• X Pro
• Higher Grok access
• Reduced ads (about half)
• Premium gifting
• Verification checkmark

Performance impact: Where the visibility gap truly opens. Consistent reach and engagement advantage over Basic and free accounts.

Best for: Creators and brands who want both premium features and measurable distribution gains.

Premium+ ($40/month)

Features:

• All Premium features
• Ad-free browsing
• Long-form Articles
• Highest Grok access
• Radar trend tracking
• Top-tier reply prioritization
• Maximum visibility boosts

Performance impact: The strongest performance, often doubling the reach of other Premium tiers.

Best for: Power users and brands relying on X as a core growth platform, where maximum exposure justifies the investment.

The bottom line: Higher X Premium tiers correlate with stronger visibility. Premium+ delivers the strongest reach boost, while standard Premium represents the point where the visibility gap truly opens.

Does X Premium Increase Followers?

The relationship between Premium and follower growth is indirect but significant. Premium increases reach, which creates more opportunities for profile visits, which can convert to followers.

How Premium affects follower growth:

1. Increased reach exposes your content to more people
2. More profile visits result from higher visibility
3. Better profile optimization converts visits to followers
4. Reply prioritization puts your engagement in front of larger audiences

However, Premium doesn't guarantee followers. The data shows that engagement rates, while higher for Premium accounts, still depend heavily on content quality. Premium amplifies your distribution, but you still need content that makes people want to follow you.

Real-world impact: Premium accounts see more profile visits because of increased reach. If your profile is optimized for conversions, those visits translate to followers. The key is combining Premium's distribution advantages with content that drives profile visits.

What Are Premium Followers on X?

"Premium followers" refers to followers who are X Premium subscribers. These followers matter for monetization because Creator Revenue Sharing payouts are calculated based on engagement from Premium users with your content.

Why Premium followers matter:

• Monetization eligibility: Revenue sharing depends on Premium user engagement
• Higher engagement potential: Premium users may be more active on the platform
• Algorithm weighting: X's algorithm may weight Premium user engagement differently

However, Premium followers aren't a separate category you can target directly. They're simply followers who happen to be Premium subscribers. The value comes from their engagement, not their Premium status alone.

Which Content Types Perform Best with Premium?

Not all post types are created equal, and the data makes that clear. When engagement rates are broken down by content type, the gap between Premium and regular accounts becomes even sharper.

Content performance by type:

• Text posts: Consistently lead for Premium accounts, climbing close to 0.9% median engagement by mid-2025. For regular accounts, engagement collapsed to around 0.25% after March 2025.

• Video posts: A close second, holding steady above 0.7% for Premium users while dropping sharply for non-subscribers.

• Image posts: Reliable but middling. Premium users see around 0.4–0.5%, while regular accounts hover closer to 0.2%.

• Link posts: The weakest format across the board. Premium cushions the blow (around 0.25–0.3%), but for regular accounts, engagement flatlined to 0% in March 2025.

Critical finding: Since March 2025, non-Premium link posts get nearly zero engagement. That means if you're not on X Premium, sharing a blog post, product page, or newsletter link is essentially invisible.

What to do: If you're paying for Premium, lean into text and video. They deliver the strongest, most reliable engagement lift. Images can diversify your feed, but links remain heavily penalized unless you're on a Premium plan. Use Postel's AI tweet writer to create high-performing text and video content that maximizes your Premium reach advantage.

X Premium Reply Prioritization: How It Works

X Premium reply prioritization is a feature that places your replies higher in conversation threads, increasing their visibility. This feature varies by tier:

• Premium Basic: Modest reply prioritization
• Premium: Larger reply prioritization
• Premium+: Top-tier reply prioritization

How it affects growth:

When you engage in conversations, particularly popular ones, having your thoughtful reply appear higher up increases its visibility significantly. This means more eyes on your contribution and, consequently, on your profile.

Strategic use:

Don't waste reply prioritization on generic comments. Instead, apply it strategically to high-quality, value-adding replies. When you contribute something insightful to a major conversation, Premium helps ensure more people see it, driving relevant profile visits and potential followers.

X Verification Benefits: Does the Blue Checkmark Help?

The blue checkmark that comes with Premium and Premium+ tiers can influence user perception, though its meaning has evolved.

Potential benefits:

• Perceived credibility: May signal seriousness or legitimacy to some audiences
• Verification-only conversations: Allows replies to posts limited to verified accounts
• Algorithm consideration: X's algorithm documentation notes that verified accounts receive visibility boosts

However, a blue checkmark doesn't guarantee engagement or followers. You still need to post content that earns attention from both people and the algorithm. The checkmark is a visual cue that might make users pause and consider your profile more closely, but content quality remains the primary driver.

Why Low Views on X Even With Premium?

Some Premium users still experience low views despite paying for the subscription. Here's why:

Content quality matters more than Premium status:

Premium amplifies distribution, but it doesn't create engagement. If your content doesn't resonate, Premium won't fix that. The data shows that engagement rates, while higher for Premium accounts, still depend heavily on content quality.

Algorithm factors beyond Premium:

• Engagement signals: Replies, profile clicks, and dwell time are the strongest signals
• Content type penalties: Links, all-caps updates, and "offensive" content see sharp penalties
• Account behavior: Consistent posting and meaningful interaction matter more than Premium alone

What to do:

1. Focus on content quality: Premium amplifies good content; it doesn't create it
2. Use text and video: These formats perform best for Premium users
3. Engage meaningfully: Reply prioritization only helps if your replies add value
4. Track performance: Monitor which content types drive profile visits and engagement

How to Improve Engagement on X Twitter 2025

Even with Premium, engagement requires strategy. Here's how to maximize your Premium investment:

1. Leverage Premium's Distribution Advantages

Use Premium's increased reach strategically. Don't just post more; post better. Premium amplifies your distribution, so make sure you're distributing content worth amplifying.

2. Focus on High-Performing Formats

Text and video posts perform best for Premium users. Lean into these formats while avoiding link posts unless you're on Premium+.

3. Use Reply Prioritization Strategically

Don't waste reply prioritization on generic comments. Apply it to high-quality, value-adding replies in major conversations. This drives profile visits from relevant audiences.

4. Optimize Your Profile for Conversions

Premium increases profile visits. Make sure your profile converts those visits into followers. Use a clear bio, professional photo, and pinned high-value tweet.

5. Track What Works

Monitor which content types drive the most profile visits and engagement. Double down on what works. Premium provides data through enhanced analytics; use it to refine your strategy. Explore viral tweet templates to discover proven content formats that perform well with Premium accounts.

The Bottom Line: Is X Premium Worth It?

The data provides a clear answer: Premium accounts receive significantly more reach than regular accounts, with Premium+ delivering the strongest boost.

However, Premium is an amplifier, not a magic wand. It provides:

• 10x more reach than regular accounts
• Higher engagement rates (though still dependent on content quality)
• Distribution advantages that create more profile visit opportunities
• Content format flexibility (longer posts, video uploads, editing)

But Premium cannot:

• Compensate for poor content quality
• Guarantee followers without strategic profile optimization
• Replace engagement strategy with distribution alone
• Eliminate the need for consistent, valuable posting

When Premium makes sense:

• X is a core channel for your brand or personal brand
• You're already creating quality content that resonates
• You want to maximize distribution of your best work
• You're willing to invest in visibility as part of a broader strategy

When Premium may not be worth it:

• You're just starting and haven't established content quality yet
• You expect Premium to pay for itself through monetization
• You're not committed to consistent, valuable posting
• X is a secondary channel for your brand

The key insight: Premium buys distribution, not success. If you're creating content that resonates, Premium amplifies that resonance. If you're not, Premium won't fix the underlying issue.

Action Steps: Maximizing Your Premium Investment

If you decide Premium is worth it, here's how to maximize your investment:

1. Invest in at least the Premium tier if X is a core channel for your brand
2. Use more text and video posts instead of links - create them with Postel's AI tweet writer
3. Keep engagement high with thoughtful replies and conversations
4. Track performance month to month to spot shifts in algorithm bias
5. Treat Premium as a visibility boost, not a content shortcut
6. Optimize your profile to convert increased profile visits into followers
7. Focus on content quality above all else - use Postel's Twitter post scheduler to maintain consistent, high-quality posting

Premium provides the tools. Your strategy determines the outcome.

This analysis is based on Buffer's study of 18.8 million posts from 71,000 X accounts between August 2024 and August 2025. The data reveals that Premium accounts receive approximately 10 times more reach per post than regular accounts, with Premium+ delivering the strongest visibility boost. However, engagement rates, while higher for Premium accounts, still depend heavily on content quality. Premium amplifies good content; it doesn't create it.