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Sharkey alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Sharkey: small volunteer team, and fewer instances than Mastodon or Misskey. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Sharkey, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Misskey currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Mastodon logoMastodonOpen sourceYesWeb, iOS, Android +15 of 562.6
  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

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Sharkey

    The most widely used fediverse software.

    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 Sharkey 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 Sharkey alternative for…

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

Misskey logo

Best Sharkey alternative for most people

Misskey

The upstream project, with the largest community of Misskey-style servers.

Mastodon logo

Best Sharkey alternative for a free option

Mastodon

The most widely used fediverse software.

Akkoma logo

Best Sharkey alternative for open source

Akkoma

Another expressive fediverse server with Mastodon app compatibility.

Misskey logo

Best Sharkey alternative for self-hosting

Misskey

The upstream project, with the largest community of Misskey-style servers.

Mastodon logo

Best Sharkey alternative for iPhone and Android

Mastodon

The most widely used fediverse software.

Misskey logo

Best Sharkey alternative for working in the browser

Misskey

The upstream project, with the largest community of Misskey-style servers.

Sharkey alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Sharkey?

Misskey ranks first right now. The upstream project, with the largest community of Misskey-style servers. Mastodon and Akkoma follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Sharkey?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Sharkey?

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

Why do people switch from Sharkey?

The complaints we hear most: small volunteer team; fewer instances than Mastodon or Misskey; can lag behind upstream Misskey changes.

How is this list ranked?

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