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Mastodon vs Threads: catalog facts
Mastodon	Threads
Free Free and open source under the AGPL. Hosting is separate.	Free Free to use.
Android, Web, Self-hosted	Android, iOS, Web
Chronological timelines with no engagement ranking Federated, so moving servers does not mean losing your network	Large mainstream audience Optional fediverse sharing over ActivityPub
Your experience depends heavily on which server you join Running a server has real moderation and maintenance cost	Centrally owned and operated by Meta Fediverse support is optional and partial
Self-hosted, Web application	Downloadable app, Web application, Hosted service
Open source	Closed source
License: AGPL-3.0	License: Proprietary
Not stated if an account is needed	Account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Needs internet
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026

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