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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

X vs TikTok

X 4.6★ · Free to download 55
Winner TikTok
TikTok 4.7★ · Free + IAP 65

TikTok is generally preferred for its content and community, despite significant technical issues, while X struggles with content moderation, bot problems, and a perceived decline in user experience.

Full reviews: X · TikTok

TikTok offers engaging content and a strong community, but users frequently report app crashes and moderation issues. X is valued for real-time news and free speech, yet it faces criticism for excessive bots, propaganda, and technical glitches.

Head to head

Content & Community edge: TikTokR4R5R7R9
X X is seen as a fast platform for news and public conversation, with users appreciating the ability to share views freely and stay current with world events R5R9. However, many users criticize the platform for being overrun with 'rage bait,' propaganda, bots, and hate speech, including anti-Semitic content and porn R4R7R16. Some feel it has become a 'pay-to-play' environment, diminishing organic engagement R27R30.
TikTok TikTok is loved for its engaging videos, ability to make friends, and diverse content like ASMR and educational tips . Users enjoy the platform for entertainment and quick news updates . However, there are significant complaints about inappropriate advertisements, the presence of scammers, and issues with content moderation leading to unfair bans and the removal of user-generated content R63R73.
Features & Functionality tieR3R10R12R13
X X offers features like translation and AI (Grok), which users find useful . However, many report significant bugs, such as videos not playing after connection loss, issues with the 'For You' tab on iPad, problems with messages/chat, and difficulty finding specific content or subscribed spaces R10R12R13. Some users also note that older features like displaying retweets and threads on accounts are missing R3.
TikTok TikTok is praised for its video quality and diverse content creation tools, though some users dislike automatic sound sync R69. There are requests for features like hiding appearance in live streams and the return of TikTok Shop . However, users report problems with search results being inaccurate or showing unrelated content, issues with sounds not loading, and a lack of features like polls for some users .
Reliability & Performance tieR10R28R33R39
X X users frequently report the app is 'BUG ridden' and 'going downhill fast' R10R28R33R39. Specific issues include videos continuing to play in the background, posts not sending, video loading getting stuck, and the app quitting when clearing media cache on iPad R10R33R39. Some users also experience being banned for 'inauthentic behaviors' without clear reasons .
TikTok TikTok users frequently report severe reliability issues, with the app crashing immediately after opening, showing a blank screen, or not opening at all R62R65R69R72. These problems persist even after reinstalling the app or restarting the phone. Users also mention losing drafts after getting a new phone and issues with follower counts decreasing .
Price & Value tieR27R30R49R67
X X is free to download, but users express frustration with the cost of verification, stating that £10 or £5 a month is too high for 'ordinary folk' and that profiles won't get acknowledged otherwise R27R30R49. Some feel the platform has become 'pay-to-play' R30.
TikTok TikTok is free to download and use, but it includes in-app purchases and users complain about a significant increase in ads, with 'one ad every three videos now' R67. There are also issues with age restrictions affecting access to features like TikTok Shop for users who are almost of age .
Support & Moderation tieR1R5R15R16
X X's moderation is a major point of contention. While some users praise it as a 'free speech platform' R5, others strongly criticize it for censorship, shadowbanning, and allowing 'haters, anti-Semites and lunatics' to have too much voice R1R15R16. Users report being banned for 'inauthentic behaviors' with AI-reviewed appeals offering no clear reasons .
TikTok TikTok's moderation is frequently criticized for being unfair and inconsistent. Users report being banned from messages or the app itself for unclear reasons, including jokes, being underage (even when of age), or defending themselves against trolls R63R66R73. There are also complaints about inappropriate ads persisting despite blocking them and a lack of action against reported scammers .
Pick X if

Pick X if you prioritize real-time news and public conversation, value a platform that allows a wide range of opinions, and are willing to navigate through content that some find controversial or problematic R5R9.

Pick TikTok if

Pick TikTok if you are looking for an engaging short-form video platform with a strong community, diverse content, and creative tools, and are willing to tolerate occasional app crashes and moderation inconsistencies .

Evidence note: Both apps have a high volume of negative recent reviews, particularly concerning technical issues and moderation. For X, many recent negative reviews focus on content moderation, bots, and a perceived decline in quality since the rebrand. For TikTok, a significant portion of recent negative reviews highlight severe app crashing issues across various iPhone models and unfair account bans. The free-to-download nature of both apps means that some negative feedback might stem from user expectations not aligning with the platform's policies or technical limitations.

Frequently asked

Is X (formerly Twitter) truly a free speech platform?
Reviews are divided; while some users praise X for allowing them to express themselves freely and share diverse views, others strongly criticize it for censorship, shadowbanning, and permitting hate speech and propaganda R1R5R15R16.
Why is my TikTok app crashing?
Many TikTok users report that the app frequently crashes immediately after opening, showing a blank screen or not loading at all, with these issues persisting even after reinstalling the app or restarting their phone, particularly on older iPhone models R62R65R69R72.
Are there a lot of bots and propaganda on X?
Yes, many X users complain about a significant presence of bots, 'rage bait,' and propaganda, stating that these elements often overshadow thoughtful content and that the platform has become a 'garbage propaganda app' R4R7R9R30.
Does TikTok have issues with age verification and account bans?
Yes, numerous TikTok users report being unfairly banned from messaging or the app itself due to age verification issues, even when they are of age, and also complain about inconsistent moderation leading to account deletions without clear reasons R63R66R73R78.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R4] X 1/5 · US Garbage: What a garbage propaganda app this has become . Elon sure did destroy twitter . BOTS EVERYWHERE if he got rid of them he’d have no platform !
  2. [R5] X 4/5 · US Best Social Media App: This is my favorite social media app. Enjoy the real people able to share their view without getting kicked off. Good for hearing what’s really going on from reliable accounts, since the actual cable news is narrated. The bots are annoying, but those are on all the apps. I also wish more people would see posts and respond. It’s so big in the world the app is more autonomous
  3. [R7] X 2/5 · US 50/50: X has become a group of people who each want to share their opinion, while wading through a swamp of rage bait and propaganda.
  4. [R9] X 3/5 · US Potential deserves better execution: X remains one of the fastest platforms for news and public conversation, but the user experience increasingly feels driven by engagement rather than substance. Clickbait, algorithmic amplification, and paid visibility often overshadow thoughtful, original content. A social platform should reward credibility, insight, and meaningful discussion not simply what ge
  5. [R3] X 3/5 · US new update: bring displaying of retweets and threads on the account back
  6. [R10] X 1/5 · US BUG ridden: Please fix the bug where on an IPad 13 using the Magic Keyboard you can’t click on a tweet in For You tab.
  7. [R12] X 3/5 · US Frustrated: I can’t figure out how to find subject matter I like
  8. [R13] X 2/5 · US Podcasts: Impossible to listen to podcast on X. I give up.
  9. [R28] X 1/5 · US lol: everytime i think this app can't get any trashier it would always surprise me
  10. [R33] X 3/5 · GB Annoying iPad bug needs squishing: Good that this app works on iPad but pressing clear media cache causes the app to quit (it doesn't even clear the cache).
  11. [R39] X 3/5 · GB I hâte the new update: Great app but last update is not great • after quitting app , video keeps playing in back ground . You need to multitask and close by hand to stop video • most post comes as “ post not sent , try later “ . • video loading get stuck . Very poor streaming
  12. [R27] X 3/5 · GB Verifying Cost too high!: I understand that when you are a trillionaire then £10 a month or even £5 a month is nothing but for us ordinary folk it us a lot! Make verification costs for non commercial accounts, 50p a month and you will make a lot more money…..
  13. [R30] X 3/5 · GB Pay to play: Unfortunately, it’s now mostly pay-to-play unless you subscribe; your profile won’t get acknowledged otherwise. I wouldn’t call it “social media” anymore it’s more of a news app now. There’s no real way to engage or meet new people. A large proportion of users now use AI to post, and many others are either engagement farming or bots. That said, it’s a fantastic place for free speech,
  14. [R49] X 2/5 · US Paying?: Since when did u have to pay for X? Trying to charge me 3.22?
  15. [R67] TikTok 1/5 · US Full of ads now: Literally one ad every three videos now??? Really? Totally just trash and unusable
  16. [R1] X 1/5 · US FrEeeeeSpEEch*: This is NOT a free speech app. It is an approved speech app. Same as it ever was.
  17. [R15] X 3/5 · US Good, but...: Elon touts that it's the free speech platform, but it's really not, due to lots of censorship and shadowbanning of anyone who dares criticizes the oven dodgers.
  18. [R16] X 1/5 · US X has too many haters: X has too many haters and allows anti-Semites and lunatics to have too much of a voice. This has put Jewish People and the State of Israel in danger
  19. [R62] TikTok 5/5 · US I love it but it will not work anymore: I’m also on iPhone 7 but it’s updated to the max and every time I open it it shows blank screen with TikTok logo And closes by its self FIX IT PLEASE
  20. [R65] TikTok 5/5 · US Love the app but this problem occurred: basically ive been on TikTok for about a few years but ever since this week it literally only shows the logo and then logs me out the app and i cant watch please fix
  21. [R69] TikTok 3/5 · US What’s going on?: Amazing videos and quality but for the past maybe 5 days, TikTok will not open. I’ve been pressing on the app just to watch something it stays stuck on the screen that has the logo for about 30 seconds and closes out of the app. I thought it was a problem with my phone so I cleared up my storage, turned off the phone, even deleted the app, and everything and it still won’t work.
  22. [R72] TikTok 3/5 · US bug problem: i’ve had tiktok and it’s been working fine but after the new update it wont let me in, it just shows a black screen with the logo and then crashes, im really disappointed because it’s the only app that i can go through without being bored and i also need my streaks. fix this soon please i’m really sad about this, i have a iphone 7 but it’s been working fine
  23. [R63] TikTok 3/5 · US UNBAN ME: i’ve been banned from messages for years now simply because i made a joke to an old friend about harming myself. I was fully joking and thought it was a funny response which we both were very aware that i was joking. I’ve been banned for years from messages even though it said it was only a 30 day ban. Fix this please or i will be deleting the app
  24. [R66] TikTok 3/5 · US eh: First, my account got suspended (i currently do not know the outcome of the appeal) for being underage, but i do not know anything that suggested that, since i am not underage. Second, the not interested button doesn't work, and third, there are random people in search that have no correlation to the search and keep appearing. also, i have a military ID that has my birthdate on the back so it
  25. [R73] TikTok 1/5 · US You banned me: You abandoned me for no reason my friend literally showed her face and I got banned and everybody else in my TikTok account was Toca World. I had 177 followers.
  26. [R78] TikTok 3/5 · US IM OLD ENOUGH: It banned me from messaging even though im of age.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store