Alternatives / Facebook
Looking for an open source Facebook alternative? We compared 4 open source and decentralized social networks by license, federation, self-hosting, moderation, and features. They cover microblogging, photo sharing, and short video, and none replicates Facebook's groups, marketplace, or events.
Written by Maxime DERAME
Last updated:
| Alternative | Best for | License |
|---|---|---|
| Mastodon | Decentralized social networking | AGPL-3.0 |
| Bluesky | Open protocol with algorithm choice | MIT app / MIT and Apache-2.0 protocol |
| Pixelfed | Federated photo sharing | AGPL-3.0 |
| Loops | Federated short video | AGPL-3.0 |
We looked for open-source social platforms that cover part of Facebook's experience: following people, sharing posts, photos, and video, and interacting. We verified each project's license, recent activity, stars, and self-hosting options in its repository. Facebook is a single centralized network, so these alternatives are decentralized or federated, with different servers and apps working together rather than one company's platform. See our methodology for the full criteria.
Mastodon and Bluesky are closer to a short-post network than to Facebook, Pixelfed is closer to Instagram, and Loops is closer to short-video apps. They lack Facebook's groups, events, marketplace, and business pages, and your friends and family may not be on them, which is the main practical barrier.
Mastodon, Pixelfed, and Loops use ActivityPub, so accounts on different servers can follow each other across the fediverse. Bluesky uses the AT Protocol, which separates identity, hosting, and feeds, so you can use custom feeds and move accounts between providers. These are separate protocols, so they do not interoperate with each other by default.
Mastodon, Pixelfed, and Loops are AGPL-3.0. The Bluesky app is MIT, and its AT Protocol reference implementation is dual-licensed MIT and Apache-2.0. Loops' separate mobile app repository is archived.
Mastodon, Pixelfed, and Loops can be self-hosted as your own server in the fediverse, though running one means handling moderation, storage, and updates. Bluesky's components can be run independently, but most people use the main Bluesky app and service.
Mastodon, Bluesky, Pixelfed, and Loops' server were all updated within days of this update. Loops is a young project in open beta.
Facebook is a proprietary, centralized network owned by Meta, with algorithmic feeds, advertising, and data collection built into its business model. Open-source alternatives are federated or use open protocols, so you can choose your server or app, control your data, see chronological feeds, and leave without losing your network, at the cost of a smaller audience and less polished features.
| Alternative | Type | License | Protocol | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mastodon | Microblogging | AGPL-3.0 | ActivityPub | Decentralized social networking |
| Bluesky | Social network | MIT / Apache-2.0 | AT Protocol | Algorithm choice |
| Pixelfed | Photo sharing | AGPL-3.0 | ActivityPub | Photographers |
| Loops | Short video | AGPL-3.0 | ActivityPub | Short-form creators |
Want a decentralized social network with chronological feeds
Mastodon offers chronological feeds, per-server moderation, rich media, and federation across the fediverse, and you can run your own server.
Want custom feeds and an open protocol
Bluesky is built on the AT Protocol with custom algorithm choice, decentralized identity, and an MIT-licensed app.
Want to share photos without ads
Pixelfed offers chronological photo feeds, albums, stories, privacy controls, and ActivityPub federation.
Want to share short videos
Loops is a federated short-video platform with vertical video, chronological feeds, and no ads, currently in open beta.