Art of the iPhone

Do you really need to spend your hard-earned money on an iPhone Twitter app? My advice: probably not. There are a variety of free Twitter apps that get the job done — TweetDeck (review, iTunes link) is a prime example. However, there are a few paid Twitter apps that are slick, feature-packed, and useful for advanced Twitterers. Here are reviews of the top 5.

1. Tweetie 2 (Tweetie 2 is now the official free Twitter app)

Tweetie Twitter is the king of paid of all Twitter apps, and this newly released update only improves on the original. Tweetie 2 (free, iTunes link) has been completely rewritten and boasts a ton of new features. These include an offline mode and very sweet iPhone contact integration that allows you to add Twitter friends to your contact list. Tweetie 2 also has a variety of nifty composition features, including URL shortening and the ability to browse recent hashtags. The new app also saves drafts of your tweets, which seems a bit ridiculous but may be nice to have.

Overall, Tweetie 2 is a joy to use and a prime example of what a good iPhone app should be. I particularly love the glowing blue indicators that tell you when you have a new DM or mention. The interface is gorgeous and intuitive, and there are few Twitter apps that can match its impressive array of features. While I love the app, I do think it’s lame that current Tweetie users need to buy the new version separately, but it’s certainly worth the price.

Overall rating: 9/10. If you’re willing to pay for a Twitter app, Tweetie 2 should be at the top of your list.

2. Twitterrific Premium

Twitterrific Premium ($3.99, iTunes link) can’t quite match Tweetie 2 when it comes to features, but few Twitter apps look as good as this one. It has an incredibly smooth, polished design that fits in well with the iPhone look. However, Twitterrific Premium loses some points when it comes to usability. The navigation is just not very intuitive, and some of the icons are not immediately recognizable. I could see Twitter newbies getting overwhelmed quickly. I’ve also had some slow response times recently. The last time I fired up the app, I saw “loading Tweets” for several minutes before I gave up and relaunched the app.

These complaints aside, Twitterrific Premium is a great Twitter app — once you figure out the navigation. I’m willing to forgive some questionable layout decisions because it looks so good.

Overall rating: 7.5/10. Tweetie 2 is easier to navigate, but Twitterrific Premium has the edge when it comes to design. While it’s a sweet-looking app, I have to question whether it’s worth the extra dollar over Tweetie 2.

3. Twittelator Pro

Twittelator Pro ($4.99, iTunes link) is not as nice to look at as Tweetie 2 or Twitterrific Premium, but it manages to incorporate a ton of features into an easy-to-use interface. The navigation is satisfyingly simple, thanks in large part to labels under each icon (something I wish Twitterrific would incorporate). Icons you use often — refresh and compose — are placed prominently at the top of the app. Twittelator Pro can be slow to respond at times, and it normally requires at least a few taps to bring up a link or photo from a tweet.

Like most paid Twitter apps, Twitterlator Pro lets you manage multiple accounts, create subgroups, save drafts, and follow conversations between followers. You can also record and tweet video (3GS only) or audio directly in the app.

Overall rating: 7/10. Twittelator Pro has all the features most users will need in a Twitter app, but at $4.99 I think it’s just a tad too pricey.

4. Echofon Pro

Echofon Pro ($4.99, iTunes link) looks very much like Twittelator Pro, and it’s just as easy to use. The interface is well laid out, although the standard color theme is a little hideous (fortunately you can change it). You can manage multiple accounts and save tweets to read later. Icon badges for new tweets, mentions and messages are a nice touch.

Echofon Pro is not lacking in features, and it has one that sets it apart from other Twitter apps — push notifications when you receive a direct message or mention. This cool feature is reliable and works well; if you need to stay on top of your Twitter account at all times, this is an invaluable feature.

Overall rating: 7/10. Push notifications give Echofon Pro a leg up on its competitors, but a hefty price tag and lackluster design lead to a lower rating.

5. TwitBird Pro

TwitBird Pro ($2.99, iTunes link) currently supports push notifications between TwitBird and TwitBird Pro users, which is essentially worthless. Fortunately, the next update will include global push notifications. TwitBird Pro has the basics that most users will need, including multiple accounts, groups, landscape mode, and a variety of search options.

After testing out Tweetie 2 and Twitterrific Premium, TwitBird Pro is rather underwhelming. It’s a perfectly decent, fast-loading app, but it lacks the polish of the best Twitter apps. The design could use a little refinement, and the menu structure requires a lot of tapping.

Overall rating: 6.5/10. Right now, TwitBird Pro can’t compete with Tweetie 2 or Twitterrific Premium. Check back after the developers add global push notifications and the story might be different.