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Friendica alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Friendica: dated interface, and few mainstream users. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Friendica, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Facebook currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Facebook logoFacebookFreeNoWeb, iOS, Android3 of 366.5
2diaspora* logodiaspora*Open sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted4 of 462.6
3Mastodon logoMastodonOpen sourceYesWeb, iOS, Android +15 of 559.6
  1. Facebook logo

    1. FacebookTop pick

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

    FreeWeb, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Friendica

    The mainstream network with the people and Groups you already know.

    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 ×0.3100
    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 Facebook a good Friendica 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)
  2. diaspora* logo

    2. diaspora*

    Best for: Privacy-minded users who want circles-based sharing on a decentralised network

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Friendica

    Another decentralised network with circles-based privacy.

    Pros

    • Aspects give fine control over who sees posts
    • No real-name requirement; you own your data
    • Self-hostable pods

    Cons

    • Small community and slow development
    • Doesn't federate with Mastodon and ActivityPub
    • No official mobile apps
    Visit diaspora* 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 diaspora* a good Friendica alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Architecture
    Independent pods
    Checked Oct 25, 2026diasporafoundation.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Aspects
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026diasporafoundation.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Real name
    Not required
    Checked Oct 25, 2026diasporafoundation.org(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Mastodon logo

    3. Mastodon

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

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

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Friendica

    A larger fediverse 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 ×0.377
    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 Mastodon a good Friendica 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)

The best Friendica alternative for…

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

Facebook logo

Best Friendica alternative for most people

Facebook

The mainstream network with the people and Groups you already know.

diaspora* logo

Best Friendica alternative for a free option

diaspora*

Another decentralised network with circles-based privacy.

Mastodon logo

Best Friendica alternative for open source

Mastodon

A larger fediverse network, focused on microblogging.

diaspora* logo

Best Friendica alternative for self-hosting

diaspora*

Another decentralised network with circles-based privacy.

Facebook logo

Best Friendica alternative for iPhone and Android

Facebook

The mainstream network with the people and Groups you already know.

Facebook logo

Best Friendica alternative for working in the browser

Facebook

The mainstream network with the people and Groups you already know.

Friendica alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Friendica?

Facebook ranks first right now. The mainstream network with the people and Groups you already know. diaspora* and Mastodon follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Friendica?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Friendica?

Yes: diaspora* and Mastodon. diaspora* and Mastodon can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from Friendica?

The complaints we hear most: dated interface; few mainstream users; mobile use relies on third-party apps.

How is this list ranked?

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