We will be honest with you. There is no 1:1 replacement for Twitter — not yet, and probably never will be.
That said, there are plenty of social apps that might be worth replacing your obsessive timeline checking routines with if you’re done with Twitter for whatever reason.
Twitter’s current state—advertisers leaving the site, Nazis returning, little things breaking here and there every day—provides an opportunity to examine what we really want from a social network.
We don’t just have to use social apps because they’re there and they’re really sticky. Users should get something out of the exchange, especially in ad-supported services. Whether that means building a following for your fledgling business or connecting with people in the communities you care about, social media should serve a function and not just waste hours of your day.
Fortunately, there are options. Decentralized projects offer a different experience that is less dependent on corporate whims, while less traditional social platforms can offer a completely different set of interactions and experiences. But that’s normal. Twitter wasn’t perfect, and while it was and probably still is very important for real-time events and news gathering, its most engaged users didn’t always enjoy spending time there.
While we all figure this out and see what comes next, here are a few options to consider.
Mastodon
Mastodon has become the most talked-about home for those running away from Twitter users — and for good reason.
The service is designed to decentralize power and moderation decisions, avoiding the worry of one person setting the rules for the entire platform based on a whim.
Mastodon works very similarly to Twitter, allowing users to share real-time thoughts within the account and retweet others’ posts. But that’s mostly where the similarities end. Unlike traditional social networks, Mastodon is an open source option, which means that instead of all users being in one big basket with one set of rules, you’ll need to choose a server (smaller basket) to join.
If you are tired of this or do not agree with these moderation decisions, you can go elsewhere. You can still follow people and interact with people on other servers, so you don’t have to agonize too much over that choice, but that decentralized spirit adds to the whole experience.
As well as choosing a server, you’ll also have a choice of which app to use to use the service on mobile (we like Metatext and plan to check Ivory from the tweetbot maker Tapbots). Mastodon’s open source nature means you have more options, but the downside of this is that the extra steps may put off people who want a simpler sign-up process.
That said, if you’re tired of the cynicism and harassment on Twitter, the vibe on Mastodon is pretty chill right now. If any of this sounds interesting, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Discord
Actually Discord doesn’t work like Twitter at all, but hear us out, it’s one of the best social apps out there.
The app was originally created to give gamers a better way to chat, but has since expanded far beyond that initial vision. Like Mastodon, Discord doesn’t offer a giant “public square”, instead offering servers based on topics and interests that anyone can join and chat with. Discord offers regular text chat in its server-based channels as well as seamless voice chat. and some other experiences like streaming a game to friends or sharing YouTube videos in a queue. Some of the most popular servers have hundreds of thousands of members, but you can also just choose one for friends or family.
With servers, Discord offers some of the same federation benefits as Mastodon, without the open source stuff that scares some people off when signing up. Unlike some of the other options on this list, Discord isn’t going anywhere anytime soon: it’s a mature company with a thriving user base and a sustainable business built around paid subscriptions. Such stability is important for social applications, which historically tend to crash and disappear in a flash.
The downside is that Discord is more about chatting than posting. The app’s Slack-like interface updates in real-time, and it’s easy to quickly lose track of conversations in a busy Discord, or even one with several hundred active members. The company knows this and is actively developing new tools that provide asynchronous interaction, so it’s worth paying attention to.
Publication
Post is a mainstream Twitter alternative that has little in common with more open platforms like Mastodon. The platform went into private beta to take advantage of the recent chaos on Twitter, and is only now open to the public. The Post isn’t decentralized, but offers a more curated experience that’s focused on engaging journalists who typically spend their day on Twitter.
Publish allows users to write, post, share, comment and like content just like we’re used to on Twitter. But the essence of the service is completely different. The Post wants to help news aggregators monetize their content by creating micropayments and tips, and promising the ability to buy “individual articles from a variety of premium news providers” to break out of their information bubble. Post is not an open platform, but is backed by venture capital and traditional investment from Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and tech commentator Scott Galloway.
The Post’s pitch is compelling, but the social network sounds like it was created in a vacuum. Those of us in news could check it out or hang in there, but it’s hard to imagine many regular Twitter users being enticed by the promise of paying for journalism, which is unfortunately a tough sell. The Post could develop a commenting culture more akin to Substack, but even then it’s hard to see why Substack’s elite would defect to the new platform.
Tumblr
While you might not see it as a Twitter alternative, hear us out because there are some similarities between the two platforms that make it a notable contender.
Although Tumblr is geared more toward a microblogging site than a traditional social network, it features a feed that displays posts from people you follow, similar to Twitter. Tumblr lets you post content with images, GIFs, videos, and more. You can leave notes similar to comments before the publication. You can also like, share and repost content on the platform. Tumblr also has a hot topics section like Twitter. In addition, the platform has a chat function similar to direct messages on Twitter.
Tumblr offers more flexibility than Twitter, but is easy to set up and use. You can use Tumblr for free or choose an ad-free option with additional features for $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year.
Given Tumblr’s ability to stay alive despite its fair share of ownership changes, we don’t think it’s going anywhere, making it the perfect Twitter alternative. It’s also a place with its own unique humor and chaotic culture, which is a big part of Tumblr’s unique appeal.
co-guest
Despite the fact that Cohost is still in beta testing, anyone can sign up for the service. If you don’t have an invite, you’ll have to wait a day or two before you can start posting. The website says the measure is aimed at preventing spam.
Cohost offers a vertical feed that displays posts in chronological order, as opposed to an algorithmic list. Similar to Twitter, Cohost has followers, reposts, likes, and comments. At the moment, the interface is quite simple, and since it does not use algorithms, there is no trending section. The platform will not display content unless you actively search for it using hashtags.
You can use the platform for free or pay a monthly fee of $5 for additional features such as larger downloads and more customization options. The company says the fee mainly helps it keep the lights on as it continues to grow.
Since Cohost is fairly new and a bit shaky, it might not be the most well-known Twitter alternative. But it might be attractive to people who want a simple alternative that actually feels like Twitter in some ways. We’ll have to wait and see if it can gather enough users and traction to be considered a worthy alternative.
Wild card: Bluesky
We don’t know much about Bluesky , but what we do know is intriguing. Bluesky was developed in parallel with Twitter and was led by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. Like Mastodon, Bluesky is a decentralized social network, meaning giving people the tools they need to build their own communities.
Due to its association with Dorsey, Bluesky has suffered some backlash, but we’re still curious to see what the project will bring when it eventually expands its super limited closed beta. The Bluesky team apparently runs the app alongside the protocol itself, and the result could combine a Twitter-like user interface with algorithmic selection, unified design and community-specific moderation.
We’ll continue to update this list as we explore new social apps that might scratch that Twitter itch in the coming months. Love someone we didn’t mention here? Let us know: [email protected].
