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Ivory alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Ivory: subscription required after the trial, and apple devices only. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Ivory, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Mastodon currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Mastodon logoMastodonOpen sourceYesWeb, iOS, Android +15 of 566.5
2Bluesky logoBlueskyFreeYesWeb, iOS, Android5 of 562.6
3Misskey logoMisskeyOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted3 of 359.6
  1. Mastodon logo

    1. MastodonTop pick

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

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

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Ivory

    The official Mastodon apps are free and also run on Android.

    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 ×0.3100
    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 Mastodon a good Ivory 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)
  2. Bluesky logo

    2. Bluesky

    Best for: People leaving X who want a familiar microblog with feed choice and more control

    FreeOpen sourceWeb, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Ivory

    If you want a polished Twitter-like experience on a different open network.

    Pros

    • Choose or build your own feeds and moderation lists
    • Use your own domain as a verified handle
    • Account portability on an open protocol

    Cons

    • Most users still rely on Bluesky's own servers
    • Smaller audience than X or Threads in many niches
    • Investor-funded, with monetisation still taking shape
    Visit Bluesky 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 Bluesky a good Ivory alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Protocol
    AT Protocol
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bsky.social(opens source in a new tab)
    Account portability
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bsky.social(opens source in a new tab)
    Custom domain handles
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bsky.social(opens source in a new tab)
    App license
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Users
    Over 43 million
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bsky.social(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Misskey logo

    3. Misskey

    Best for: Creative communities who want expressive, customisable fediverse microblogging

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Ivory

    A feature-rich fediverse platform with its own web interface.

    Pros

    • Emoji reactions, drive storage and rich formatting
    • Highly customisable interface and themes
    • Federates with Mastodon and the fediverse

    Cons

    • Busy interface for newcomers
    • Heavier to self-host than lighter servers
    • No official mobile apps
    Visit Misskey 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 Misskey a good Ivory alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Origins
    Started in 2014 in Japan
    Checked Oct 25, 2026misskey-hub.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026misskey-hub.net(opens source in a new tab)

The best Ivory alternative for…

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

Mastodon logo

Best Ivory alternative for most people

Mastodon

The official Mastodon apps are free and also run on Android.

Bluesky logo

Best Ivory alternative for a free option

Bluesky

If you want a polished Twitter-like experience on a different open network.

Misskey logo

Best Ivory alternative for open source

Misskey

A feature-rich fediverse platform with its own web interface.

Mastodon logo

Best Ivory alternative for self-hosting

Mastodon

The official Mastodon apps are free and also run on Android.

Mastodon logo

Best Ivory alternative for iPhone and Android

Mastodon

The official Mastodon apps are free and also run on Android.

Mastodon logo

Best Ivory alternative for working in the browser

Mastodon

The official Mastodon apps are free and also run on Android.

Ivory alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Ivory?

Mastodon ranks first right now. The official Mastodon apps are free and also run on Android. Bluesky and Misskey follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Ivory?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Ivory?

Yes: Mastodon, Bluesky and Misskey. Mastodon and Misskey can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from Ivory?

The complaints we hear most: subscription required after the trial; apple devices only; only as good as your Mastodon server.

How is this list ranked?

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