Mastodon AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Photo Sharing Apps

Alternatives list

1. 

   

   Pixelfed

    290 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.

   139 Pixelfed alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source (AGPL-3.0)

   Application typeApplication types

   • Social Network
   • Photo Sharing

   Origin

   • Canada

   Platforms

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

   • Canada

   

   

   

   +7

   

   More about Pixelfed  

   

   Good alternative?Is Pixelfed a good alternative to Mastodon?

    

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   3comments

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   Pixelfed vs Mastodon Comments

   Negative comment by social-remodeler · Oct 2, 2024

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

   Pixelfed replaces Instagram and Tumblr in the fediverse.

   Positive comment by Kelson V · Nov 19, 2025

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

   Negative comment by Guest · Dec 26, 2022

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

   3 of 3 comments

   

   

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

   

   Bluesky

    125 likes

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

   86 Bluesky alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source (MIT)

   Application typeApplication types

   • Social Network
   • Microblog

   Origin

   • United States

   Platforms

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

   • United States

   

   

   

   +1

   

   More about Bluesky  

   

   Good alternative?Is Bluesky a good alternative to Mastodon?

    

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   2comments

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   Bluesky vs Mastodon Comments

   Positive comment by R C · Dec 11, 2024

   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.

   Negative comment by hfVgd_ · Nov 17, 2024

   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.

   2 of 2 comments

   

   

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

   

   Tumblr

    468 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.

   123 Tumblr alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Proprietary

   Application typeApplication types

   • Blog Publishing
   • Social Network

   Origin

   • United States

   Platforms

   • Online
   • Android
   • iPhone
   • Android Tablet
   • iPad

   • United States

   

   

   

   More about Tumblr  

   

   Good alternative?Is Tumblr a good alternative to Mastodon?

    

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   1comment

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   Tumblr vs Mastodon Comments

   Negative comment by Mano · Jan 14, 2025

   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.

   1 of 1 comments

   

   

   • Tumblr is Free and ProprietaryMastodon is Free and Open Source
   • Tumblr is a Blog Publishing Mastodon is a Social Network
5. 

   

   Facebook

    1003 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.

   162 Facebook alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Proprietary

   Application type

   • Social Network

   Origin

   • United States

   Platforms

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

   • United States

   

   

   More about Facebook  

   

   Good alternative?Is Facebook a good alternative to Mastodon?

    

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   4comments

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   Facebook vs Mastodon Comments

   Negative comment by John Fastman · Apr 16, 2017

   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.

   Negative comment by Guest · Jul 22, 2020

   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.

   Negative comment by Mano · Jan 14, 2025

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

   3 of 4 comments

   

   

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

   

   VK

    168 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.

   104 VK alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Proprietary

   Application type

   • Social Network

   Origin

   • Russia

   Platforms

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

   • Russia

   

   

   

   More about VK  

   

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   1comment

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   VK vs Mastodon Comments

   Negative comment by Mano · Jan 19, 2025

   This is essentially just another facebook

   1 of 1 comments

   

   

   • VK is Free and ProprietaryMastodon is Free and Open Source
8. 

   

   Gridsky

    9 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 typeApplication types

   • Social Network
   • Bluesky Client

   Platforms

   • Online

   

   More about Gridsky  

   

   Good alternative?Is Gridsky a good alternative to Mastodon?

    

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   1comment

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   Gridsky vs Mastodon Comments

   Negative comment by Mano · Jan 19, 2025

   Gridsky is an alternative frontend for Bluesky only

   1 of 1 comments

   

   

   • 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.

   Cost / License

   • Freemium
   • Proprietary

   Application typeApplication types

   • Social Network
   • Microblog

   Origin

   • United States

   Platforms

   • Android
   • iPhone
   • Android Tablet
   • iPad

   • United States

   

   

   

   More about Hive Social  

   

   Good alternative?Is Hive Social a good alternative to Mastodon?

    
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.

    69 FineFriends alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application typeApplication types

    • Social Network
    • Video Sharing

    Platforms

    • Online

    

    

    

    +4

    

    More about FineFriends  

    

    Good alternative?Is FineFriends a good alternative to Mastodon?

     
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.

    84 OVBE.Club alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application typeApplication 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

    

    More about OVBE.Club  

    

    Good alternative?Is OVBE.Club a good alternative to Mastodon?

     
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  

    

    Good alternative?Is Mirror Island a good alternative to Mastodon?