GNU social Alternatives

GNU social is described as 'continuation of the StatusNet project. It is social communication software for both public and private communications. It is widely supported and has a large userbase' and is a popular Social Network in the social & communications category. There are more than 50 alternatives to GNU social for a variety of platforms, including Online / Web-based, Android, Self-Hosted solutions, iPhone and Windows. The best alternative is Mastodon, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like GNU social are Twitter, Diaspora, Nitter and Gab.

GNU social alternatives are mainly Social Networks but may also be Microblogs or Encrypted Chat Apps. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of GNU social.

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GNU social

Free • Open Source
Social Network
Self-Hosted

GNU social is a continuation of the StatusNet project. It is social communication software for both...

Learn more about GNU social

Mastodon
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Social Network
Microblog
Online
Android
iPhone
Self-Hosted
Cloudron
F-Droid
116 alternatives to Mastodon
Mastodon is a Free and Open Source federated social network, made with a focus on more personal interaction.
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Mastodon Features
1. DecentralizedMastodon is based on a decentralized infrastructure with no single entity controlling it.
2. Ad-freeMastodon doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. Privacy focusedMastodon is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
4. Support for ActivityPubMastodon support ActivityPub, a open and decentralized social network protocol.
5. Two-factor AuthenticationMastodon supports two-factor authentication (2FA).
6. Dark ModeMastodon supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
7. Support for @mentionsMastodon supports the use of mentions through @ to a particular user, who will be notified personally.
8. No TrackingMastodon will not track you or use your personal data.
Federated
Fediverse
No Censorship
Mastodon vs GNU social opinions
Twitter
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Social Network
Microblog
Windows
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
Kindle Fire
164 alternatives to Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking service that enables users to send and read short 280-character messages called "tweets".
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Twitter Features
1. IFTTT IntegrationYou can connect different services to automatically trigger actions within Twitter using IFTTT.
2. Two-factor AuthenticationTwitter supports two-factor authentication (2FA).
3. Dark ModeTwitter supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
4. Support for @mentionsTwitter supports the use of mentions through @ to a particular user, who will be notified personally.
5. End-to-End EncryptionTwitter has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
6. Personalized RecommendationsTwitter can recommend content you like, whether it's something you already know or not.
Threaded Conversations
Hashtags
Trends
Minimalistic
Private messaging
Progressive Web App
Twitter vs GNU social opinions
This alternative is disputed. Twitter is still a legitimate alternative to GNU social, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
Guest
Twitter controls content. Not by a general agreement acceptable to all users but dictated by corporate.
Negative comment•
0
Diaspora
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Social Network
Microblog
Linux
Online
BSD
Self-Hosted
Ruby
128 alternatives to Diaspora
Diaspora is a federated social networking service, designed to be a more privacy-aware alternative to Facebook . Share what you want, with whom you want.
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Diaspora Features
1. DecentralizedDiaspora is based on a decentralized infrastructure with no single entity controlling it.
2. Privacy focusedDiaspora is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
3. No TrackingDiaspora will not track you or use your personal data.
4. Ad-freeDiaspora doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
5. Support for ActivityPubDiaspora support ActivityPub, a open and decentralized social network protocol.
6. Support for MarkDownDiaspora supports MarkDown for document formatting.
Federated
Encrypted Connection
Distributed
Fediverse
Self-hosted
Ruby
Nitter
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Social Network
Microblog
Online
Google Chrome
Firefox
Android
F-Droid
105 alternatives to Nitter
Nitter is a free and open-source front-end mirror of Twitter, which allows you to consult Twitter, with a focus on privacy.
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Nitter Features
1. LightweightNitter consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. No TrackingNitter will not track you or use your personal data.
3. Ad-freeNitter doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
4. Dark ModeNitter supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
Security focused
Gab
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Open Source
Social Network
Microblog
Online
Android
139 alternatives to Gab
Gab Social is an open source and fully decentralized social network powered by the Gab Platform. It is the new social network of Gab.com. This change was made to further Gab's commitment to its users trust and privacy online.
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Gab Features
1. Ad-freeGab doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
2. Privacy focusedGab is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
3. DecentralizedGab is based on a decentralized infrastructure with no single entity controlling it.
4. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Gab without registration.
5. Dark ModeGab supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
Free Speech
Community-based
Live topics
Bypass Censorship
Fediverse
Content creators
Live Broadcasting
Ruby
Word filtering
Information aggregator
Warning
Gab is less moderated compared to other social networks and could be offensive to some people
Minds
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Open Source
Social Network
Blog Publishing Tool
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
138 alternatives to Minds
We are a free and open-source platform to launch your digital brand, social network and mobile app. We are also a social network ourselves. It is a global social network of social networks. Available in either decentralized or centralized options.
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Minds Features
1. DecentralizedMinds is based on a decentralized infrastructure with no single entity controlling it.
2. Privacy focusedMinds is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
3. GamificationMinds makes use of game-design elements such as point scoring, competition, achievements, etc.
Free Speech
Security focused
No Censorship
Monetization
Share screenshots
Podcast Hosting
Tokenization
Content Discovery
Point System
Secure Chat
Facebook
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Social Network
Windows
Online
Android
iPhone
Blackberry
Android Tablet
Windows Phone
iPad
Tor
KaiOS
162 alternatives to Facebook
Free online social media and network service connecting people with friends, family, classmates and more.
Suggest and vote on features
Facebook Features
1. IFTTT IntegrationYou can connect different services to automatically trigger actions within Facebook using IFTTT.
2. Facial RecognitionFacebook can register a biometric facial pattern to identify or verify the identity of a subject through an image or video.
3. Two-factor AuthenticationFacebook supports two-factor authentication (2FA).
4. Personalized RecommendationsFacebook can recommend content you like, whether it's something you already know or not.
5. Expiring StoriesYou can create, view, interact and share temporary stories in Facebook.
Integrated Chat
Automated speed adjustments
Communities
Team Messaging
Data Harvesting
Facebook vs GNU social opinions
pros, cons and recent comments
Guest
Facebook denies users free speech
Negative comment•
1
Pleroma
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Social Network
Microblog
Online
Self-Hosted
34 alternatives to Pleroma
Pleroma is a free, federated social networking server built on open protocols. It is compatible with GNU Social, Mastodon, and many other ActivityPub and OStatus implementations.
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Pleroma Features
1. DecentralizedPleroma is based on a decentralized infrastructure with no single entity controlling it.
2. Support for ActivityPubPleroma support ActivityPub, a open and decentralized social network protocol.
3. LightweightPleroma consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
4. Privacy focusedPleroma is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
5. No TrackingPleroma will not track you or use your personal data.
6. Ad-freePleroma doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
Fediverse
Distributed
Friendica
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Social Network
Microblog
Linux
Android
BSD
Self-Hosted
F-Droid
PHP
125 alternatives to Friendica
Friendica is a distributed social network application. Which allow users to connect with others via their own Friendica server, but may also fully integrate contacts from other platforms including Twitter, diaspora*, Pump.io and StatusNet into their 'newsfeed'.
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Friendica Features
1. DecentralizedFriendica is based on a decentralized infrastructure with no single entity controlling it.
2. Privacy focusedFriendica is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
3. Support for ActivityPubFriendica support ActivityPub, a open and decentralized social network protocol.
Federated
Rsvp
Diaspora integration
Twitter Integration
Commodity hosting support
Team Messaging
Community events
Distributed
VK
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Social Network
Video Hosting Service
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
HUAWEI AppGallery
Windows Phone
iPad
Kindle Fire
101 alternatives to VK
VK (originally VKontakte) is a largest social network service from Europe. Available in many languages and highly popular particularly among Russian-speaking users around the world, especially in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Belarus, and Israel.
Suggest and vote on features
VK Features
1. Dark ModeVK supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
Social feed
Music Library