Mastodon

Web · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API

Freedom report

Three barsScore 6.5

Free tierA free tier is on its own pricing page
Runs widely3 of 6 device platforms
DocumentedPlans, terms and facts published

Mastodon is ranked #40 of 126 in community platforms on Freedom251, made by Mastodon (Berlin, Germany). It runs on Android, API, iOS, Self-hosted, Web. There is a free plan.

Mastodon plans and pricing

All plans

Mastodon software Free Free and open-source software; server hosting and operation are managed by independent providers or by the user joinmastodon.org · 8 Oct 2026

Institutional hosting and support Paid hosting, moderation, and support for larger organisations; contact Mastodon to discuss options blog.joinmastodon.org · 8 Oct 2026

Compared on community platforms

Free plan: Yes
Custom domain: Yes
Moderation tools: Yes
Mobile apps: both

Best Mastodon alternatives

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Two bars NodeBB Free tier No. 1$20/mo8.1 Two bars Whaller Free tier No. 2€3/mo8.1 Two bars Octo Free tier No. 3$29/mo8.0 One bar Discourse Free tier No. 4$100/mo7.9 Two bars HumHub Free tier No. 5Free7.8 Two bars HuddleSpot Free tier No. 6$3,959/mo7.7

The record

Product: Mastodon is free, open-source decentralized social media software for short-form social networking.
Independent servers: Users join through a server operated by an independent organization or individual, and servers can have different moderation policies.
Federation: Users can follow people across Mastodon servers, and Mastodon can interoperate with platforms that implement ActivityPub.
Timeline: The home feed shows followed posts in chronological order without algorithmic recommendations or ads, according to Mastodon’s site.
Posting features: Posts can include audio, video, images, accessibility descriptions, polls, content warnings, animated avatars, custom emojis, and thumbnail crop controls.
Moderation: Each server sets and enforces its own rules locally, and users may choose a server or host their own.
Account portability: Users can move their profile to another server without losing followers, according to the servers page.
Apps: Mastodon provides official iOS and Android apps, a progressive web app, and a directory of third-party apps for mobile, web, and desktop.
API: Mastodon describes its API as open and well documented and available to everyone for building apps.
Self-hosting: Users can run Mastodon on their own infrastructure, while the documentation notes that server operation involves technical requirements such as email delivery.
Security: Mastodon requires HTTP signatures to validate that received activity was authored by the actor generating it.
Institutional services: Mastodon offers organisations paid server hosting, moderation on request, and support contracts for in-house operations teams.
Support: Mastodon lists separate contact addresses for business hosting, security reports, legal matters, and general inquiries.
Organization: Mastodon says it began as an open-source project in 2016 and was incorporated as a German gGmbH in 2021; the About page describes a foundation transition process begun in 2025.
Price from: Free

Where it ranks on Freedom251

Best Community Platforms in 2026#40 of 126

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Sources

joinmastodon.org· checked 8 Oct 2026
joinmastodon.org/servers· checked 8 Oct 2026
joinmastodon.org/apps· checked 8 Oct 2026
docs.joinmastodon.org/user/run-your-own/· checked 8 Oct 2026
docs.joinmastodon.org/spec/security/· checked 8 Oct 2026
blog.joinmastodon.org/2025/09/service-offerings-from-mastodon· checked 8 Oct 2026
joinmastodon.org/about· checked 8 Oct 2026