Compare software

Mastodon vs Bluesky: catalog facts
Mastodon	Bluesky
Free Free and open source under the AGPL. Hosting is separate.	Free Free to use; the flagship app is a hosted service built on the open AT Protocol.
Android, Web, Self-hosted	Android, iOS, Web
Chronological timelines with no engagement ranking Federated, so moving servers does not mean losing your network	Built on an open protocol rather than one closed platform Lets users migrate their identity between providers
Your experience depends heavily on which server you join Running a server has real moderation and maintenance cost	Most users rely on the official hosted service rather than running their own infrastructure Ecosystem of alternative apps and providers is still maturing
Self-hosted, Web application	Web application, Downloadable app
Open source	Closed source
License: AGPL-3.0	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.