Mastodon
A free, open-source social media platform that puts users in charge of their data and connections
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-11-07
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- Open Source
- Hosting Model
- Self-host (your server)
- Platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- Installation
- Clone https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon or deploy with Docker Compose
- Operational Setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- Where Your Data Lives
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- The Catch / Trade-off
- Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Facebook.
Replaces 3 paid apps
up to $75/mo ($900/yr) in subscriptions
Mastodon FAQ
Common questions
Is Mastodon free and open source?+
Mastodon is an open-source tool licensed under Open Source that runs on self-host. A free, open-source social media platform that puts users in charge of their data and connections
What paid software does Mastodon replace?+
Mastodon serves as a free replacement for 3 paid SaaS applications: Facebook, Threads, X (Twitter), saving up to $75/month ($900/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up Mastodon?+
Installation: Clone https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon or deploy with Docker Compose. Setup notes: Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
What is the catch or trade-off with Mastodon?+
Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Facebook.