Mastodon AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Photo Sharing Apps

Alternatives list

1. 

   

   Pixelfed

    284 likes

   Federated image-sharing platform with privacy, safety, no tracking or ads, algorithm-free chronological timelines, open-source code, comprehensive moderation, supports self-hosting, ActivityPub protocol, hashtag discovery, responsive mobile access, and ethical data control.

   134 Pixelfed alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source (AGPL-3.0)

   Application types

   • Social Network
   • Photo Sharing

   Origin

   • Canada

   Platforms

   • Online
   • Android
   • iPhone
   • iPad
   • Self-Hosted
   • F-Droid
   • Cloudron

   

   

   

   +7

   

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   Is Pixelfed a good alternative to Mastodon?

    

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   Pixelfed vs Mastodon Comments

    

   Kelson V

   Positive comment•Nov 19, 2025

   0

   If Mastodon is like Twitter, Pux3lfed is like Instagram. Depending on how you want to use your social media, they can be complementary

   social-remodeler

   Negative comment•Oct 2, 2024

   2

   Pixelfed is a good combination and addition to Mastodon as both have different purposes.

   Pixelfed replaces Instagram and Tumblr in the fediverse.

   Guest

   Negative comment•Dec 26, 2022

   3

   Pixelfed is an alternative to Tumblr or Instagram, not to a microblogging platform like Mastodon

   Review by a new / low-activity user.

   

   

   • Pixelfed is Free and Open SourceMastodon is also Free and Open Source
   • Pixelfed is Security-focusedMastodon is not according to our users
2. 

   

   Bluesky

    114 likes

   An open social network that gives creators independence from platforms, developers the freedom to build, and users a choice in their experience.

   77 Bluesky alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source (MIT)

   Application types

   • Social Network
   • Microblog

   Origin

   • United States

   Platforms

   • Online
   • Android
   • Android Tablet
   • iPhone
   • Self-Hosted
   • Cloudron

   

   

   

   +1

   

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   Bluesky vs Mastodon Comments

    

   R C

   Positive comment•Dec 11, 2024

   1

   Lot of big name power users and a massive community make Blue Sky good. Blue Sky has a lot of really cool features like "Feed" and "Labels" that will only continue to grow.

   hfVgd_

   Negative comment•Nov 17, 2024

   2

   While both are open source and decentralized, Bluesky promotes algorithmic timelines and is currently only compatible with the Bluesky website and client apps.

   Mastodon instances are decentralized, allowing communication between multiple social networking services which are part of the Fediverse.

   

   

   • Bluesky is Free and Open SourceMastodon is also Free and Open Source
4. 

   

   Tumblr

    467 likes

   Tumblr is a place to express yourself, discover yourself, and bond over the stuff you love. It's where your interests connect you with your people.

   113 Tumblr alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Proprietary

   Application types

   • Blog Publishing
   • Social Network

   Origin

   • United States

   Platforms

   • Online
   • Android
   • iPhone
   • Android Tablet
   • iPad

   

   

   

   +5

   

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   Tumblr vs Mastodon Comments

    

   Mano

   Negative comment•Jan 14, 2025

   1

   Proprietary microblogging platform, currently owned by Automattic. You can't run your own server and all you post on tumblr stays there.

   Notable for doing a NSFW content purge in 2018, being sold for 3 million USD in 2019 and still not being profitable to the current owner, who claims it drains 30 million dollars per year.

   

   

   • Tumblr is Free and ProprietaryMastodon is Free and Open Source
5. 

   

   Facebook

    1001 likes

   A comprehensive social network for connecting with friends and family, sharing photos, videos, and updates, organizing events, forming groups, and accessing business pages. Offers messaging, live streaming, privacy settings, and a marketplace on both web and mobile platforms.

   152 Facebook alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Proprietary

   Application type

   • Social Network

   Origin

   • United States

   Platforms

   • Windows
   • Online
   • Android
   • iPhone
   • Android Tablet
   • iPad
   • Tor
   • KaiOS

   

   

   More about Facebook  

   

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   Facebook vs Mastodon Comments

    

   John Fastman

   Negative comment•Apr 16, 2017

   37

   Facebook makes money by using people's private information for their profit. Your privacy - everyone you know, message, what you like and discuss - is the basis of their money-making. You are the product. Additionally, FB likes can be used to guess with high accuracy people's political preferences. Facebook have also experimented with manipulating peoples' emotions using the news feed. Mastodon does NONE of this; it's free, non-profit and open source.

   Guest

   Negative comment•Jul 22, 2020

   9

   Mastodon: Open-source, decentralized/federated, can even be done p2p... Facebook: closed-source/proprietary, centralized, owned and operated by a company that gets raging hard-ons whenever there's a chance for them to molest your privacy and sell your data to anyone from shops to downright evil governments... If these two have any similarity beyond that they're both on the internet, then I'm guessing a submarine and a jetfighter are also similar.

   Review by a new / low-activity user.

   Mano

   Negative comment•Jan 14, 2025

   0

   Facebook pushes whatever content Mark Zuckerberg desires. It's designed to spy on the users and sell ads.

   Show more comments

   3 of 4 comments

   

   

   • Facebook is Free and ProprietaryMastodon is Free and Open Source
6. 

   

   VK

    167 likes

   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.

   97 VK alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Proprietary

   Application type

   • Social Network

   Origin

   • Russia

   Platforms

   • Online
   • Android
   • iPhone
   • Android Tablet
   • HUAWEI AppGallery
   • Windows Phone
   • iPad
   • Kindle Fire

   

   

   

   +4

   

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   VK vs Mastodon Comments

    

   Mano

   Negative comment•Jan 19, 2025

   0

   This is essentially just another facebook

   

   

   • VK is Free and ProprietaryMastodon is Free and Open Source
7. 

   

   Gridsky

    8 likes

   Gridsky brings the visual charm of Instagram to Bluesky, offering a delightful client with a grid-based interface and easy scrolling. Focused on photo content, Gridsky creates a minimal, immersive experience with innovative ways to interact with feeds and profiles. Accessible online for seamless photo sharing.

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Proprietary

   Application types

   • Social Network
   • Bluesky Client

   Platforms

   • Online

   

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   1comment

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   Gridsky vs Mastodon Comments

    

   Mano

   Negative comment•Jan 19, 2025

   0

   Gridsky is an alternative frontend for Bluesky only

   

   

   • Gridsky is Free and ProprietaryMastodon is Free and Open Source
9. 

   

   Hive Social

    8 likes

   Share content and connect to people you love on Hive.

   30 Hive Social alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Freemium
   • Proprietary

   Application types

   • Social Network
   • Microblog

   Origin

   • United States

   Platforms

   • Android
   • iPhone
   • Android Tablet
   • iPad

   

   

   

   +4

   

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10. 

    

    FineFriends

     4 likes

    FineFriends is a social media website that is built for the users and their privacy. Clear privacy policy and settings, no spam and completely free.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    • Social Network
    • Video Sharing

    Platforms

    • Online

    

    

    

    +4

    

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11. 

    

    OVBE.Club

     Like

    OVBE.Club is an online community that gives people the power to share, learn, network, and become an entrepreneur if they choose.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    • Social Network
    • Blog Publishing

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Windows Mobile
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Blackberry
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • Windows Phone
    • iPad
    • Blackberry 10

    

    

    

    +1

    

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12. 

    

    Mirror Island

     3 likes

    Quickly send and share messages and files, in private, public, or in groups. You can edit conversations collaboratively, and attach files and photos to posts.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    • Social Network

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted

    

    

    

    +2

    

    More about Mirror Island  

    

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