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Whalebird vs Elk: catalog facts
Whalebird	Elk
Free Free software with no advertising, supported by GitHub Sponsors donations.	Free Free to use and open source.
Windows, macOS, Linux	Web
Works with Mastodon, Pleroma, Friendica, Firefish, GoToSocial and Pixelfed Multiple accounts with streaming timelines	Nothing to install, runs in any modern browser Works with an account on an existing Mastodon server
Single-column layout only; multi-column needs the separate Fedistar app Desktop only, with no mobile version	Mastodon focused rather than covering every fediverse platform Requires a Mastodon account
Downloadable app	Web application
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License not stated
Account needed	Account needed
Needs internet	Needs internet
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

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