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It’s time for the Twitter competitor showdown – Bluesky vs Mastodon. Ever since Elon Musk took over Twitter, several changes have been implemented on the platform. Some of these changes implemented on the platform don’t seem to sit well with many users, and as a result, many Twitter users are already switching to other alternative platforms across the internet.
Bluesky and Mastodon are among the popular Twitter alternative platforms available online today. These social platforms function similarly to Twitter and are designed with some really cool features. Like Twitter, Bluesky and Mastodon have plenty of users scattered across the globe. They are decentralized networks which share out authority via a blockchain.
In this article, we will look at the 2 platforms one after the other. After that, we will compare Bluesky vs Mastodon in terms of compatibility, pricing, and user interface. So, let’s dive right into it.
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What is Bluesky?
Bluesky is a decentralized social media platform that was initially started by Jack Dorsey during his time as the CEO of Twitter in 2019. Today, the company is a Public Benefit LLC owned by Jay Graber and the Bluesky team. At the moment, Bluesky is invite-only and has a little above 50,000 users. To join the platform, you have to sign up for the waitlist at bsky.app.
What is Mastodon?
Mastodon is also a decentralized social network that was initially released on March 16, 2016. The platform is made up of independent servers grouped around specific topics, interests, or themes. Users can join servers, engage in discussions, follow each other, and do all other things expected on a social media platform. The platform was developed by a non-profit company from Germany called Mastodon gGmbH. This means there is no advertising, unlike Twitter or Meta sites like Facebook and Instagram.
Initially, Mastodon wasn’t really popular. It only became very popular as a big competitor to other social media platforms in late 2022 during Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover. In order to use Mastodon, you have to create an account on the platform. As of late 2022, the platform has over 4 million accounts with only about 1 million active users.
Bluesky vs Mastodon: Comparing Both Platforms
Now, let’s compare the two platforms in terms of several factors like compatibility, user interface, and pricing.
Bluesky vs Mastodon: Availability and Compatibility
In terms of availability and compatibility, both platforms are quite different. Bluesky is still in the beta phase and is only available on an invite basis. You must sign up for the waitlist before you are invited to join the platform. Initially, Bluesky was only available on iOS. However, it is now available on Android too, via Google’s Play Store.
Mastodon, on the other hand, is an open-source platform. That is, the platform is available to everyone. You don’t have to sign up for a waitlist to use it as in the case of Bluesky. Mastodon works as both an Android and iOS app.
Bluesky vs Mastodon: User Interface
The user interface of a social media platform is very important since it determines its user-friendliness. Since Bluesky is still in the developmental stage and only accessible through invitation, very little is known about its user interface. However, since it was developed by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, we expect it to have a similar design and user interface as Twitter.
On the other hand, Mastodon has an intuitive user interface similar to that of other social media platforms. It features a timeline as well as profiles. Users can also follow each other and join conversations, just like Twitter and tweets. What’s more, Mastodon allows users to create sub-communities or instances on the platform. Furthermore, Mastodon is also very easy to navigate.
Bluesky vs Mastodon: Pricing
Bluesky is a free social platform and doesn’t have any paid plans. However, you can only join the platform through an invite. Once you get an invite code, you can access the platform and use all of its features for free.
While Bluesky requires an invitation, Mastodon doesn’t require an invitation. It is available for free. You only need to sign up for an account on the platform in order to use it.
Final Thoughts
In comparing Bluesky vs Mastodon to determine which is best, you have to consider the factors mentioned earlier in the article. Bluesky and Mastodon are both great alternatives to Twitter. The fact that they are both decentralized social platforms makes them even more appealing to users with a liberal mindset. But will any of the 2 platforms ever replace Twitter? Well, only time will tell.