Short answer
A professional account is a free X account type for businesses, creators and public figures that adds a category label and profile modules like location, contact buttons or a shop; switch in Settings > Your account > Account information or from Edit profile.
Key takeaways
- Professional accounts are free; they're different from paid checkmarks.
- You choose Business or Creator and a category that shows on your profile.
- You can switch back to a personal account at any time.
Twitter introduced professional accounts in 2021 to give businesses and creators profile features that personal accounts didn't need. They still exist on X and cost nothing.
What does a professional account add?
A category label under your name, plus optional profile modules ("spotlights") for your location, contact details or products.
| Feature | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Category | A label like "Bakery", "Journalist" or "Software company" |
| Location spotlight | Address, map link and opening hours for local businesses |
| Contact spotlight | Buttons to call, email or message you |
| Shop or product module | Products with links to buy, where available |
| Account type | Business or Creator, which tailors suggestions |
How do I switch?
From your profile: Edit profile > Switch to professional, or in Settings > Your account > Account information.
- Open your profile and tap Edit profile.
- Choose Switch to professional (in some versions it's under Settings > Your account).
- Pick a category that describes you.
- Choose Business or Creator.
- Optionally add a profile spotlight.
The category appears on your profile right away.
How do I switch back?
Settings and privacy > Your account > Account information > Account type, then switch to a personal account.
Your posts and followers stay. The category label and spotlights disappear.
Is it worth it?
For a business, yes; it costs nothing and makes your profile more useful to customers.
A café with opening hours and a map on its profile saves people a search. A freelancer with an email button gets more inquiries. For individuals who just post opinions, it changes little. If you need more than the free features, look at X Premium Business and the gold checkmark.
Questions people ask
Does a professional account cost money?
No. It's free. Paid features like the gold checkmark come from X Premium Business, which is separate.
Does switching affect my reach?
Not directly. X doesn't rank posts higher because an account is professional. The benefit is a clearer profile and business features.
Can a protected account be professional?
Professional accounts are meant to be public. If you protect your posts, X may ask you to switch back to a personal account.