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Mastodon

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Free plan WebiOSAndroidAPISelf-hosted
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Spec score 8.5 #3 of 20 in Social Media APIs

Spec sheet

Product
Mastodon is free, open-source decentralized social media software for short-form social networking.Read 8 Oct 2026 · joinmastodon.org
Free plan
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · joinmastodon.org
API
Mastodon describes its API as open and well documented and available to everyone for building apps.Read 8 Oct 2026 · joinmastodon.org
Mobile apps
bothRead 20 Sep 2026 · joinmastodon.org
Security
Mastodon requires HTTP signatures to validate that received activity was authored by the actor generating it.Read 8 Oct 2026 · docs.joinmastodon.org
Support
Mastodon lists separate contact addresses for business hosting, security reports, legal matters, and general inquiries.Read 8 Oct 2026 · joinmastodon.org
Headquarters
Berlin, GermanyRead 28 Sep 2026 · joinmastodon.org
Founded
2016Read 28 Sep 2026 · joinmastodon.org
Account portability
Users can move their profile to another server without losing followers, according to the servers page.Read 8 Oct 2026 · joinmastodon.org
Apps
Mastodon provides official iOS and Android apps, a progressive web app, and a directory of third-party apps for mobile, web, and desktop.Read 8 Oct 2026 · joinmastodon.org
Custom domain
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · joinmastodon.org
Federation
Users can follow people across Mastodon servers, and Mastodon can interoperate with platforms that implement ActivityPub.Read 8 Oct 2026 · joinmastodon.org
Independent servers
Users join through a server operated by an independent organization or individual, and servers can have different moderation policies.Read 8 Oct 2026 · joinmastodon.org
Institutional services
Mastodon offers organisations paid server hosting, moderation on request, and support contracts for in-house operations teams.Read 8 Oct 2026 · blog.joinmastodon.org
Moderation
Each server sets and enforces its own rules locally, and users may choose a server or host their own.Read 8 Oct 2026 · joinmastodon.org
Moderation tools
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · joinmastodon.org
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.Read 8 Oct 2026 · joinmastodon.org
Posting features
Posts can include audio, video, images, accessibility descriptions, polls, content warnings, animated avatars, custom emojis, and thumbnail crop controls.Read 8 Oct 2026 · joinmastodon.org
Self-hosting
Users can run Mastodon on their own infrastructure, while the documentation notes that server operation involves technical requirements such as email delivery.Read 8 Oct 2026 · docs.joinmastodon.org
Timeline
The home feed shows followed posts in chronological order without algorithmic recommendations or ads, according to Mastodon’s site.Read 8 Oct 2026 · joinmastodon.org

Plans and prices

Mastodon software Free Free and open-source software; server hosting and operation are managed by independent providers or by the user Read 8 Oct 2026 · joinmastodon.org
Institutional hosting and support Priced on request Paid hosting, moderation, and support for larger organisations; contact Mastodon to discuss options Read 8 Oct 2026 · blog.joinmastodon.org

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