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diaspora* alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave diaspora*: small community and slow development, and doesn't federate with Mastodon and ActivityPub. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces diaspora*, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Friendica currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Friendica logoFriendicaOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted4 of 466.5
2Mastodon logoMastodonOpen sourceYesWeb, iOS, Android +15 of 562.6
3Facebook logoFacebookFreeNoWeb, iOS, Android3 of 359.6
  1. Friendica logo

    1. FriendicaTop pick

    Best for: Facebook leavers who want profiles, groups and events on a decentralised network

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from diaspora*

    Similar Facebook-style features, and it also connects to the ActivityPub fediverse.

    Pros

    • Facebook-style features with fine-grained privacy
    • Connects to ActivityPub, diaspora* and email
    • Runs on cheap PHP and MySQL hosting

    Cons

    • Dated interface
    • Few mainstream users
    • Mobile use relies on third-party apps
    Visit Friendica Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Friendica a good diaspora* alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Protocols
    ActivityPub, OStatus, diaspora*
    Checked Oct 25, 2026friendi.ca(opens source in a new tab)
    Hosting requirements
    PHP and MySQL
    Checked Oct 25, 2026friendi.ca(opens source in a new tab)
    Latest release
    2026.05
    Checked Oct 25, 2026friendi.ca(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Mastodon logo

    2. Mastodon

    Best for: People who want ad-free, chronological social media without a single corporate owner

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from diaspora*

    A much larger decentralised network, focused on microblogging.

    Pros

    • No ads or engagement algorithm
    • Move servers without losing followers
    • Open source and self-hostable

    Cons

    • Choosing a server confuses newcomers
    • Discovery and search are weaker than on big platforms
    • Moderation quality varies by server
    Visit Mastodon Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Mastodon a good diaspora* alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Organisation
    Non-profit, started 2016
    Checked Oct 25, 2026joinmastodon.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Ads and algorithms
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026joinmastodon.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Account migration
    Keep your followers
    Checked Oct 25, 2026joinmastodon.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Official apps
    iOS and Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026joinmastodon.org(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Facebook logo

    3. Facebook

    Best for: Keeping up with family, local Groups, events and Marketplace listings

    FreeWeb, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from diaspora*

    The mainstream network if reaching friends matters most.

    Pros

    • Huge reach across age groups and countries
    • Groups and Events are hard to replace for local communities
    • Marketplace for buying and selling locally

    Cons

    • Feed increasingly filled with recommended content
    • Extensive data collection for targeted ads
    • Younger audiences have largely moved elsewhere
    Visit Facebook Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Facebook a good diaspora* alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Key features
    Groups, Watch, Marketplace
    Checked Oct 25, 2026about.meta.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Launched
    2004
    Checked Oct 25, 2026about.meta.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Transparency reports
    Published twice a year
    Checked Oct 25, 2026transparency.meta.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best diaspora* alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Friendica logo

Best diaspora* alternative for most people

Friendica

Similar Facebook-style features, and it also connects to the ActivityPub fediverse.

Mastodon logo

Best diaspora* alternative for a free option

Mastodon

A much larger decentralised network, focused on microblogging.

Friendica logo

Best diaspora* alternative for open source

Friendica

Similar Facebook-style features, and it also connects to the ActivityPub fediverse.

Friendica logo

Best diaspora* alternative for self-hosting

Friendica

Similar Facebook-style features, and it also connects to the ActivityPub fediverse.

Facebook logo

Best diaspora* alternative for iPhone and Android

Facebook

The mainstream network if reaching friends matters most.

Friendica logo

Best diaspora* alternative for working in the browser

Friendica

Similar Facebook-style features, and it also connects to the ActivityPub fediverse.

diaspora* alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to diaspora*?

Friendica ranks first right now. Similar Facebook-style features, and it also connects to the ActivityPub fediverse. Mastodon and Facebook follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to diaspora*?

Yes. Friendica (open source), Mastodon (open source) and Facebook (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to diaspora*?

Yes: Friendica and Mastodon. Friendica and Mastodon can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from diaspora*?

The complaints we hear most: small community and slow development; doesn't federate with Mastodon and ActivityPub; no official mobile apps.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces diaspora*, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.