Mastodon
Free, open-source decentralized social network
Founded
2016
Starting Price
$0
Category
Social Media Management
Last updated March 8, 2026
About Mastodon
Mastodon is a free, open-source decentralized social networking platform built on the ActivityPub protocol. It allows users to create and join independently operated servers (instances) that interconnect to form a global social network called the fediverse. With no ads, no algorithms, and full user control over data, Mastodon offers a privacy-focused alternative to centralized social media platforms.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Completely free and open-source with no ads or algorithmic manipulation
- Strong privacy controls — users own their data with no corporate surveillance
- Decentralized architecture prevents single-point censorship or shutdown
- Interoperable with the broader fediverse via ActivityPub protocol
- Active, engaged communities with high signal-to-noise ratio
Key Features
Decentralized Federation
Join any server or host your own — all instances interconnect via ActivityPub to form one global social network
No Ads or Algorithms
Chronological timeline with no advertising, no promoted content, and no algorithmic manipulation of your feed
Quote Posts
Share and comment on others' posts with quote post functionality, introduced in Mastodon 4.5
Granular Privacy Controls
Choose post visibility per-post: public, unlisted, followers-only, or direct messages
Custom Moderation
Each server sets its own rules and moderation policies, with tools for external blocklists and content scanning
Rich Media Support
Attach images, videos, audio, and polls to posts with alt-text support for accessibility
ActivityPub Interoperability
Communicate with any platform that supports ActivityPub, including Pixelfed, PeerTube, Lemmy, and more
Pricing
Free (Join a Server)
$0
- Join any public instance
- Full posting and interaction features
- No ads or tracking
- Custom privacy settings
- Mobile and web apps
Best For
Privacy-Focused Social Networking
Users who want full control over their data and an ad-free social media experience
Community Building
Organizations and interest groups can run their own instances with custom rules and moderation
Journalist and Creator Platform
Public figures seeking a platform free from algorithmic suppression and corporate control
Open Source Advocacy
Tech communities and open-source advocates building on open web standards
