Pixelfed AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Social Networks

The best Social Network alternative to Pixelfed is Mastodon, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Pixelfed and loads of them are Social Networks so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Social Network alternatives to Pixelfed are Bluesky, Tumblr, Pixelix and Minds.

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Pixelfed alternatives are mainly Social Networks but may also be Photo Sharing Apps or Microblogs.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Pixelfed.
Pixelfed iconPixelfed
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Pixelfed is an image sharing platform with focus on Privacy, Safety and Security, an ethical alternative to centralized platforms like Instagram.

More about Pixelfed
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Pixelfed alternatives page was last updated Apr 19, 2025
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Alternatives
  1. Mastodon icon

    Mastodon

     525 likes
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    Decentralized and federated social platform with no ads, focusing on personal interaction, and offering 500 character posts, custom emojis, content warnings, and robust moderation tools.

    129 Mastodon alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron
    Screenshot of the Mastodon web interface

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  Federated
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Fediverse
    5. ActivityPub icon  Support for ActivityPub
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  No Censorship
    8.  Two-factor Authentication
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Support for @mentions
    11.  Multiple Account support
    12.  Self Destructing Messages

    Mastodon VS Pixelfed

     

    • Almost everyone thinks Mastodon is a great Pixelfed alternative.

    • Mastodon is the most popular Web-based, Android, iPhone & iPad alternative to Pixelfed.

    • Mastodon is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Pixelfed.

    • Mastodon is Free and Open SourcePixelfed is also Free and Open Source
    • Mastodon is Privacy focusedPixelfed is not according to our users
  2. Bluesky icon

    Bluesky

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

    64 Bluesky alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    Bluesky screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Support for @mentions
    5.  Multiple Account support
    6.  Two-factor Authentication
    7.  Personalized Recommendations
    8.  No registration required

    Bluesky VS Pixelfed

     
  4. Tumblr icon

    Tumblr

     458 likes
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    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.

    115 Tumblr alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Tumblr screenshot 1
    Tumblr screenshot 2
    Tumblr screenshot 3

    Tumblr Features

    1.  Social feed
    2.  Search by tags
    3.  Tagging
    4.  Dark Mode
    5. IFTTT icon  IFTTT Integration
    6.  Image Sharing
    7.  Photo Gallery
    8.  Blog template
    9.  Progressive Web App

    Tumblr VS Pixelfed

     

    • Tumblr is the most popular Android Tablet alternative to Pixelfed.

    • Tumblr is Free and ProprietaryPixelfed is Free and Open Source
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Minds icon
    Minds

    An open-source platform for decentralized social networking. Users can monetize posts through ads or monthly support, engaging in various features such as Blogs, Videos, and secure private chats. Minds supports free speech and fa...

    https://www.minds.com
    Learn More
  6. Pixelix icon

    Pixelix

     19 likes
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    Experience high-performance Pixelfed interactions on Android with a customizable interface, direct messaging, widgets, and fediverse integration for easy browsing and posting.

    5 Pixelix alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • F-Droid
    • iPhone
    Pixelix screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  User friendly

    Features

    1.  No Tracking
    2.  Dark Mode
    3. ActivityPub icon  Support for ActivityPub
    4.  Decentralized
    5.  Support for @mentions
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Material design

    Pixelix VS Pixelfed

     
  7. Minds icon

    Minds

     325 likes
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    An open-source platform for decentralized social networking. Users can monetize posts through ads or monthly support, engaging in various features such as Blogs, Videos, and secure private chats. Minds supports free speech and facilitates sharing across networks and exploring global trends.

    125 Minds alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Minds.com homepage

    Properties

    1.  Free Speech
    2.  Security-focused
    3.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  Encrypted Chat
    3.  No Censorship
    4.  Monetization
    5.  Gamification
    6.  Podcast Hosting
    7.  Tokenization
    8.  Secure Chat
    9.  Share screenshots

    Minds VS Pixelfed

     
  8. Instagram icon

    Instagram

     366 likes
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    Instagram offers advanced photo editing and sharing capabilities, featuring Stories, Reels, IGTV, and live-streaming. It supports interactive multimedia engagement, business analytics, and global connectivity through seamless social media integration and recommendations.

    147 Instagram alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    Instagram screenshot 1
    Instagram screenshot 2
    Instagram screenshot 3

    Top Instagram Features

    1.  Share Videos
    2.  Social feed
    3.  Face Filter
    4.  Instagram auto follow
    5.  Direct Messaging
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Support for @mentions
    8.  Expiring Stories
    9.  Two-factor Authentication
    10. IFTTT icon  IFTTT Integration
    11.  Photo effects
    12.  Image Sharing

    Instagram VS Pixelfed

     

    • Most users think Instagram is a great Pixelfed alternative.

    • Instagram is the most popular Windows alternative to Pixelfed.

    • Instagram is Free and ProprietaryPixelfed is Free and Open Source
  10. 500px icon

    500px

     98 likes
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    500px lets you create stunning professional photo portfolios, find friends, express yourself and connect with likeminded people.

    79 500px alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    500px screenshot 1

    500px Features

    1.  Personalized Recommendations
    2.  Unlimited storage
    3. IFTTT icon  IFTTT Integration

    500px VS Pixelfed

     

    • 500px is the most popular SaaS alternative to Pixelfed.

    • 500px is Freemium and ProprietaryPixelfed is Free and Open Source
  11. PixelDroid icon

    PixelDroid

     19 likes
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    PixelDroid is a Free and Open Source Android client for Pixelfed, the federated image sharing platform.

    5 PixelDroid alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    PixelDroid screenshot 1
    PixelDroid screenshot 2
    PixelDroid screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Fediverse
    2.  Image Sharing
    3.  Decentralized
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Dark Mode

    PixelDroid VS Pixelfed

     
  12. Impressia for Pixelfed icon

    Impressia for Pixelfed

     8 likes
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    This app is dedicated to photo lovers, offering clean, exclusive photo timelines. It includes features like liking, commenting, boosting, and supports following across the Fediverse. It also features trending photos, tags, and user blocking to enrich the social experience.

    5 Impressia for Pixelfed alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Impressia for Pixelfed screenshot 1
    Impressia for Pixelfed screenshot 2
    Impressia for Pixelfed screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No Tracking
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Decentralized
    5. ActivityPub icon  Support for ActivityPub
    6.  Support for @mentions
    7.  Image Sharing
    8.  Fediverse
    9.  Built-in Commenting System

    Impressia for Pixelfed VS Pixelfed

     
  13. Gridsky icon

    Gridsky

     6 likes
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    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.

    10 Gridsky alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    Gridsky screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes

    Gridsky VS Pixelfed

     
  14. GoToSocial icon

    GoToSocial

     9 likes
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    GoToSocial is an ActivityPub social network server, written in Golang.

    33 GoToSocial alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Self-Hosted
    • Kubernetes
    • YunoHost
    a screenshot of the GoToSocial web interface

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1. ActivityPub icon  Support for ActivityPub
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Decentralized
    4.  Support for @mentions
    5.  Federated
    6.  Fediverse
    7.  Community-based

    GoToSocial VS Pixelfed

     

    • GoToSocial is the most popular Mac & Linux alternative to Pixelfed.

    • GoToSocial is Free and Open SourcePixelfed is also Free and Open Source
    • GoToSocial is LightweightPixelfed is not according to our users
  15. Soapbox.pub icon

    Soapbox.pub

     10 likes
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    Soapbox is customizable open-source software that puts the power of social media in the hands of the people. Feature-rich and hyper-focused on providing a user experience to rival Big Tech, Soapbox is already home to some of the biggest alternative social platforms on the...

    37 Soapbox.pub alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    Screenshot of Soapbox home feed.

    Soapbox.pub Features

    1.  Fediverse

    Soapbox.pub VS Pixelfed

     
12 of 60 Pixelfed alternatives