Short answer
A gold checkmark on X means the account belongs to a business or organization that subscribes to X Premium Business (formerly Verified Organizations); it comes with a square profile photo and, on higher tiers, affiliate badges for staff and sub-accounts.
Key takeaways
- Gold = businesses, nonprofits, media and brands; gray = governments; blue = individuals.
- Gold-check accounts use a square profile photo instead of a circle.
- Affiliates show the organization's logo as a small badge next to their name.
Gold checkmarks first appeared in December 2022, when Twitter split its single blue check into colors by account type. In 2026 gold still marks organizations, but the product behind it has been renamed and reorganized.
What does a gold checkmark mean?
That the account is a business or organization that pays for X's business subscription and passed X's review.
It's meant for companies, nonprofits, media outlets, brands and interest groups. It doesn't mean X endorses the organization, and it doesn't on its own prove the account is the one you think it is; always look at the username and the account's history too. Fakes made with generators (including ours) can draw a gold check, which is why checking the account itself matters.
What is X Premium Business?
It's the 2025 name for what launched in 2023 as Verified Organizations: a monthly business subscription with the gold check and business features.
X split the program in 2025. Businesses buy Premium Business, which reportedly comes in a Basic tier, a Full Access tier and a custom Enterprise tier. Governments and multilateral organizations moved to Premium Organizations, which carries the gray check. Both are separate from the individual X Premium subscription.
| Premium Business (gold) | Premium Organizations (gray) | X Premium (blue) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | Businesses, nonprofits, media, brands | Governments, officials, multilaterals | Individuals |
| Profile photo | Square | Round | Round |
| Affiliates | Full Access and above | Yes | No |
| Reported starting price (2025-26) | About $200/month (Basic) | About $1,000/month | Varies by country |
What are affiliates?
Affiliates are accounts an organization links to itself: employees, executives, brands or regional accounts, each shown with a small square badge of the organization's logo.
An affiliate badge tells readers that this person or sub-account is connected to the organization. Affiliates typically get a blue check through the organization's subscription. The badge appears next to the name on posts and the profile. Our generator can draw one for mockups of fictional companies; using a real company's logo in a mockup that could be mistaken for real is a bad idea.
Should my business get it?
If customers search for you on X or impersonators target you, yes; if you post occasionally and nobody fakes you, probably not.
The gold check reduces confusion when scam accounts copy your brand, a real problem for airlines, banks, retailers and software companies with support traffic. It also signals to journalists and partners that the account is official. For a small local business with modest activity, the cost is hard to justify; a professional account with a complete profile goes a long way for free.
Questions people ask
How much does the gold checkmark cost?
Reported prices in 2025-2026 start around $200 a month for the Basic tier of Premium Business and about $1,000 a month for Full Access with affiliates. X sets prices by region and changes them, so check the current price on X.
Can an individual get a gold checkmark?
No. Gold is for organizations. Individuals get blue through X Premium. A person can show their employer's logo as an affiliate badge if the organization adds them.
Why are gold-check profile photos square?
It's a visual cue that the account is an organization, not a person. X applies it automatically to gold-check accounts.