If you’re a Twitter user and Android owner, then you’re most likely using the official Twitter for Android app to read and send tweets. Although the official app is decent and updated on a regular basis, it doesn’t always offer the best solution to your tweeting needs. For example, what if you need to search for certain keywords on a regular basis? What if you need to look at @mentions? How do you add multiple accounts to the official Twitter app? Today, we’re going to compare some of the best alternative Twitter apps on the market. Keep reading if you’re ready to use Twitter like never before!

Official Twitter for Android app

We can’t just skip over the official Twitter for Android app, which is the only Android Twitter app made by Twitter itself. It’s designed to replicate the look and feel of Twitter.com, and its simple interface allows users to quickly check their homepage and @mentions as well as trending news stories.

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The app is lightweight and fast to load. It’s also updated on a regular basis. Another convenient feature is that a small notification light appears under each top menu item. So, if you have new @mentions that you have not yet read, then you’ll notice that small light under the ‘Connect’ menu. Fast and idiot-proof, the official Twitter for Android app is the world’s most popular Twitter app for a reason. But if you’re reading this article, then you’re probably interested in seeing what else is out there.

HootSuite

HootSuite is one of the most feature-rich alternative Twitter apps available to Android users today. With HootSuite, users can perform a variety of functions that aren’t available over the traditional Twitter app. Users can schedule tweets, for example, HootSuite also makes switching between multiple accounts easy. So, while the official Twitter for Android app allows users to switch between accounts with a little searching, HootSuite makes this experience much more seamless. Oh, and if you want to use other social networks without actually switching accounts, HootSuite makes that as easy as possible. Users can login to Facebook, LinkedIn, and Foursquare in order to see updates from all their other social networks. This also allows users to post updates to all of their social networks at once, which means making dual Facebook and Twitter updates is now easier than ever.

UberSocial

UberSocial is another common name when it comes to alternative Twitter for Android apps. UberSocial has similar features to HootSuite, although there are a few advantages. Along with have multiple account access and a direct link to Facebook, UberSocial lets users set up a favorite user list. So, if you want to block out all of the spam coming from @KimKardashian and just look at what your real friends are saying, you can do that with UberSocial.

TweetCaster for Android

If you liked the favorite contacts list feature in HootSuite, then you’ll appreciate TweetCaster even more. TweetCaster has a full-blown feature called SmartLists that allow users to view, manipulate, and filter out certain tweets. So, you can view your entire news list to see what’s going on in the world. Or you can view tweets from those in certain industries, or just see what your friends are saying. TweetCaster also has a useful Party Search feature that makes it easy to search through somebody’s timeline. So, if you know somebody tweeted at you several months ago but can’t remember what they said, then TweetCaster allows you to easily search through tweets on either your page or somebody else’s. TweetCaster also has one of the easiest multiple account interfaces available today. The top of the TweetCaster screen features instant links to each one of your accounts. So, if you’re running a business account alongside a personal account, switching between the two has never been easier.

TweetDeck

TweetDeck is the most popular Twitter application for desktop computers, and TweetDeck is the mobile version of that app. With TweetDeck, users can easily search multiple keywords or access past searches. So, instead of constantly searching for your name on Facebook, you can see what people are saying about you. Or, if you’re representing a certain company, you can search for that company’s name on Facebook to address any complaints or compliments. TweetDeck for Android – just like the desktop application – is split up into multiple columns. Switching between columns is as easy as swiping across the screen. Users can also add their Facebook and Foursquare accounts to the app and schedule tweets. Oh, and if you already use TweetDeck for your desktop computer, you’ll be happy to note that all of your columns with synch with TweetDeck for Android.

Conclusion – which one is right for you?

Ultimately, the Twitter app you choose depends on what you use Twitter for. If managing multiple accounts is important to you, then TweetCaster or HootSuite are ideal solutions. Or, if you need to constantly monitor Twitter for people mentioning various search terms, then TweetDeck is your go-to solution. Of course, if you just want a simplified interface and an easy way to send and receive tweets from a single account, then the official Twitter for Android app will work just fine.