Mastodon

About

Mastodon is ranked #18 of 126 in community platforms on Inferse, made by Mastodon (Berlin, Germany). It runs on Android, API, iOS, Self-hosted, Web. There is a free plan.

Compared on community platforms

Free plan

Yesjoinmastodon.org

Custom domain

Yesjoinmastodon.org

Moderation tools

Yesjoinmastodon.org

Mobile apps

bothjoinmastodon.org

Facts

Product

Mastodon is free, open-source decentralized social media software for short-form social networking.joinmastodon.org · 8 Oct 2026

Independent servers

Users join through a server operated by an independent organization or individual, and servers can have different moderation policies.joinmastodon.org · 8 Oct 2026

Federation

Users can follow people across Mastodon servers, and Mastodon can interoperate with platforms that implement ActivityPub.joinmastodon.org · 8 Oct 2026

Timeline

The home feed shows followed posts in chronological order without algorithmic recommendations or ads, according to Mastodon’s site.joinmastodon.org · 8 Oct 2026

Posting features

Posts can include audio, video, images, accessibility descriptions, polls, content warnings, animated avatars, custom emojis, and thumbnail crop controls.joinmastodon.org · 8 Oct 2026

Moderation

Each server sets and enforces its own rules locally, and users may choose a server or host their own.joinmastodon.org · 8 Oct 2026

Account portability

Users can move their profile to another server without losing followers, according to the servers page.joinmastodon.org · 8 Oct 2026

Apps

Mastodon provides official iOS and Android apps, a progressive web app, and a directory of third-party apps for mobile, web, and desktop.joinmastodon.org · 8 Oct 2026

API

Mastodon describes its API as open and well documented and available to everyone for building apps.joinmastodon.org · 8 Oct 2026

Self-hosting

Users can run Mastodon on their own infrastructure, while the documentation notes that server operation involves technical requirements such as email delivery.docs.joinmastodon.org · 8 Oct 2026

Security

Mastodon requires HTTP signatures to validate that received activity was authored by the actor generating it.docs.joinmastodon.org · 8 Oct 2026

Institutional services

Mastodon offers organisations paid server hosting, moderation on request, and support contracts for in-house operations teams.blog.joinmastodon.org · 8 Oct 2026

Support

Mastodon lists separate contact addresses for business hosting, security reports, legal matters, and general inquiries.joinmastodon.org · 8 Oct 2026

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.joinmastodon.org · 8 Oct 2026

Company

Founded

2016joinmastodon.org · 28 Sept 2026

Headquarters

Berlin, Germanyjoinmastodon.org · 28 Sept 2026

Where it ranks on Inferse

• Best Community Platforms in 2026#18 of 126

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