Farewell TweetDeck! Six TweetDeck Alternatives to Use

Yesterday, Twitter announced that they would be discontinuing the development of the beloved TweetDeck App, it will discontinue its mobile and desktop versions, including the apps TweetDeck AIR, TweetDeck for Android, and TweetDeck for iPhone. The apps will be removed from their respective stores in May, and they will stop to work shortly afterwards. Twitter and TweetDeck are opting to focus only on the web-version of the app.

Around the world, loyal TweetDeck users cried.

Ok, maybe that is a little dramatic, but really? If you love TweetDeck? This is pretty sad news. TweetDeck was one of the most useful tools for managing Twitter, allowing you to monitor and track conversations. It was free, and it was useful.

If the demise of TweetDeck has left you searching for a new alternative, may I suggest the following TweetDeck alternatives? Depending on the size of your brand, some of these may be overkill, but they are still great options to consider.

Apps for Social Media Publishing:

HootSuite (iOS, Android, BlackBerry): This is one of the most popular Twitter and social media management tools out there. Of them all, this is my favorite of the TweetDeck alternatives. HootSuite allows you to manage multiple accounts across multiple social platforms. Great for if you have both personal and professional accounts on Twitter and Facebook. I started to use HootSuite a few months ago so I could watch Twitter and Facebook both from one place. Willing to pay $9.99/month? You will get tons of perks, like Google Analytics and Facebook Insights integration. That said, the free account should do most users just fine.

Sprout Social: This popular management tool allows you to schedule posts and get snapshot metrics on your social media efforts. It is more expensive than HootSuite, but it’s customizable in ways that HootSuite isn’t. Definitely worth checking out!

Apps for Tweeting:

While these apps don’t show you quite as much in one interface screen, and they don’t integrate with other social media platforms, they are still great apps to consider to make your Twitter experience better!

UberSocial (iOS, Android, Amazon Appstore for Android, BlackBerry): This app has so many features listed in the App Store page, it makes my head swim! Multiple-account management, cross-posting to Facebook, live previews, menu customization, inner circle contacts and gestures are just a few of the amazing offerings that make for this awesomely fluid, and feature-packed user experience. Free and Pro versions available.

Echofon (iOS, Android): Echofon keeps unread tweets in sync between the Echofon app on different devices – automatically. It makes viewing and sharing photos and videos super simple, and it can alert you of mentions and messages. It even allows you to set a sleep period, so you can go offline in peace and quiet. (There is also an Echofon app for Facebook!)

TweetCaster (iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, Amazon Appstore for Android, Web): TweetCaster is full of features, all in a colorful and clean user interface. Drag-and-drop menu icons and display themes, Facebook cross-posts, and the ability to see what you and your followers retweeted, and multiple Twitter accounts are just a few of the great features. Definitely worth considering if you’re a power Twitter user. Free and Pro versions available.

TweetBot (iOS, Mac): Multiple accounts, multiple lists, saved searches and, for die-hard TweetDeck users mourners, multiple columns view – just some of the many features this app offers. If you use the Tweetbot iOS apps, you’ll love the integration with the Mac app — not only do they have a unified look, but thanks to iCloud sync, they save your place in the stream, as well as keep track of tweets you have and haven’t read. The iOS version is $2.99 and the Mac version is $19.99. This price tag will be steep for some users, but if you would like a seamless experience on your Mac you will have a hard time finding a better option.

Bonus App! MetroTwit (Windows): I realize the last one was for Mac users only, and I’d hate to leave you Windows users short an app option. After doing some research, I’ve found a number of recommendations for trying MetroTwit. If you’re a recent Windows user who’s fond of columns, this application brings some Metro style to the Twitter platform. This gives it a native, baked-in Windows 8 feel. It offers customization options, alert settings, visual/display fonts and colors, column views and more — all in that luscious user interface. I don’t have a Windows computer, but this almost makes me wish I did so I could test it out. Free and Pro versions available.

Or You Could Just Use the Twitter App

While not as full featured as some of the others, the Twitter app for iPhone, iPad and Android work great. If you are simply looking for a way to post to Twitter, this may be the best option for you. Best part? Like Twitter, it is free!