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Lost your blue check? These are the best Twitter alternatives
There have been hard days for Twitter. The popular social media site has been plagued by controversy since Tesla CEO Elon Musk became the new owner in October 2022. Changes to the site have come in spades, from layoffs to the reinstatement of Twitter's more controversial accounts.
Marc Hardgrove, CEO at TheHoth and SEO expert, has seen the changes first-hand. "A lot is going on at the Twitter offices now that Elon Musk has stepped in to save the network. The platform's personality, uniqueness, and popularity have all suffered from many ups and downs, confusion, and controversy," he tells me. "Choosing a trustworthy Twitter substitute is, therefore, the best course of action in this situation."
Indeed, Musk's recent takeover and the ensuing controversy have led many users to look for another option for their social networking needs. Especially with the recent removal of verified and free blue checks (including the Pope Francis, Beyonce, and official government accounts) in favor of Twitter Blue's paid subscription.
Thankfully, there are a lot of options. This is what you need to know about the best Twitter alternatives before you sign up for your next account.
- Ad-free
- Operates similar to Twitter
- Open-source software
- Slightly awkward interface
- Tricky message threading
Mastodon features:
- Biggest decentralized social media network available
- Made up of individual communities that interact
- Posts up to 500 characters, respond to threads, and share blogs
- Users can control their own data and privacy settings
Mastodon holds the distinction of being the biggest decentralized social media network available today, according to Ryan Faber, founder of Copymatic, a cutting-edge AI-powered platform. "This decentralized approach to social media is seen as a more privacy-focused alternative to centralized platforms like Twitter and Facebook," he adds.
Mastodon utilizes a network consisting of individual communities that can interact with one another. Getting started with Mastodon is simple; just find a community that interests you and create a profile. You can make posts up to 500 characters, respond to threads, and share blogs from all of your selected communities.
Dave Conway of Eco Motion Central notes another advantage: "The primary strength of Mastodon is its decentralized nature, which enables users to create their own communities and post content without worrying about censorship or moderation," he explains.
"As a founder, I continue to explore social sites," says Faber, who has been a Mastodon user for some time now. "Before signing up, you should be aware that Mastodon does not have all of the features that users may enjoy on other social media platforms, such as Twitter or Facebook. However, it allows users to control their own data and privacy settings, which can be an important consideration for those who are concerned about their online privacy."
Review: Mastodon review
- Audio-based content
- Tons of rooms to join
- Easy networking
- Limited info online
- Poor moderation
Clubhouse features:
- Audio-based social app
- Connect over interests and explore new ideas
- Join rooms based on specific topics and interests
- Strong focus on privacy, control who joins conversations
Clubhouse is an audio-based social media platform that the service compares to an "always-on dinner party," according to Conway.
The platform has a communal approach to social media, where users share voice-recorded messages with each other. It aims to build new friendships and strengthen existing ones based on the art of conversation. Users can connect over similar interests and topics, explore new ideas, and share life experiences. There are rooms available to join based on specific topics and interests. For instance, the Ukraine crisis was a trending topic that drew nearly one million users in mid-April.
"The primary strength of Clubhouse is its focus on audio-based conversations, which allows users to have more meaningful conversations than they would on other social media platforms," explains Conway. "Furthermore, Clubhouse has a strong emphasis on privacy, enabling users to control who can join their conversations."
When it first launched in 2020, Clubhouse was invitation-only, and some invitations were even sold on eBay. However, the service is now open to new users
Review: Clubhouse review
- Excellent diversity
- Tons of content to peruse
- Easy interaction
- Some moderation issues
- Subject to misinformation
Reddit features:
- Focus on discussion and debate
- Join communities to discuss topics
- Subreddit subscriptions for curated content
- More organized and focused than Twitter
Reddit has established itself as the go-to site for debate and conversation. Different communities of people can join forums to discuss various topics, from gaming to news to beauty and film. There are support groups, fan sites, professional growth, and creative outreach. Regardless of your interests, Reddit appears to have a place for you.
Conway shares his opinion; "The main strength of Reddit is its focus on discussion and debate, which enables users to have more meaningful conversations than they would on other social media platforms."
"Many people, including myself, use Reddit as an alternative to Twitter because it offers a more organized and focused approach to content sharing and discussion," says Michael Donovan, co-founder of Niche Twins, a blogging site. "Twitter can often feel overwhelming and cluttered, with an endless stream of tweets from various accounts appearing on your timeline."
Donovan advises subscribing to subreddits, which he says will assist in curating content for your perusal. "This means that you can curate your feed to only show content that you're interested in rather than being bombarded with irrelevant or uninteresting tweets," he explains.
Furthermore, there is always the added concern of security and privacy, but Conway assures that Reddit has taken steps to establish a secure environment. "Reddit has a strong emphasis on privacy, enabling users to control who can see their posts and who can interact with them."
Review: More about Reddit
- Excellent for blogs
- Easy to use
- Tagging for simple navigation
- Subject to inappropriate content
- Difficult to sort
Tumblr features:
- More than 572 million blogs
- Option to write, read, or share blogs and multimedia
- Short-form and long-form blogs
- Private blog option for personal journaling
Tumblr is to blogs what Reddit is to forums. It provides a platform for writers, bloggers, and creatives to gather and share their work. By March 2023, Tumblr had amassed over 572 million blogs since its founding in 2007.
"Tumblr is one of the most extensive blogging platforms," says Scott Lard, a web analyst who serves as general manager and partner at IS&T. "It's easy to categorize blogs, and Tumblr tags help them reach the right readers or viewers. One can utilize their creativity freely and in the best ways."
Users can write, read, or share blogs and multimedia on the site, with short-form and long-form blogs covering various topics and interests. Tags can be used to locate and share specific topics online, expanding your community with each addition.
When you find a blog you enjoy, you can easily follow the author to stay updated on future content. Your dashboard will keep you informed of any new material for your perusal. Additionally, you have the option to keep your blogs private, with the service acting as more of an online diary or journal for your innermost thoughts.
For easier sharing, connect your Twitter and Facebook accounts for even more effortless access.
What is the best Twitter alternative?
Twitter has long dominated as a mainstay among social media sites, but it certainly is not for everyone. Meanwhile, Mastodon continues to dominate social media as the best Twitter alternative. This is a look at the best Twitter alternative to download in the shadow of Twitter's troubles.
| Best Twitter alternative | Age Restrictions | Pros | Cons | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mastodon | 17+ | Biggest decentralized social media network, ad-free, open-source software | Slightly awkward interface, tricky message threading | Posts up to 500 characters, respond to threads, share blogs, control own data and privacy settings |
| Clubhouse | 12+ | Audio-based content, tons of rooms to join, easy networking | Limited info online, poor moderation | Join rooms based on specific topics and interests, strong focus on privacy, control who joins conversations |
| 17+ | Excellent diversity, tons of content to peruse, easy interaction | Some moderation issues, subject to misinformation | Join communities to discuss topics, subreddit subscriptions for curated content, more organized and focused than Twitter | |
| Tumblr | 17+ | Excellent for blogs, easy to use, tagging for simple navigation | Subject to inappropriate content, difficult to sort | Option to write, read, or share blogs and multimedia, short-form and long-form blogs, private blog option for personal journaling |
Which is the best Twitter alternative for you?
Just because Mastodon is the best Twitter alternative overall doesn't mean that it is the right service for you. It can be hard to decipher the differences between all of the best Twitter alternatives, especially when you have not used the service yet. To help, these are my recommendations to help you find the best Twitter alternative for you.
Choose this best Twitter alternative... | If you want... |
Mastodon | The best Twitter alternative available. This social hub is an open-source platform that you can use to interact with users. |
Clubhouse | Audio-based content. Create and share voice messages with your friends and family for a more personal touch. |
To communicate with users via writing. Reddit has no shortage of forums for you to share your thoughts and opinions with other users. | |
Tumblr | To read and write blogs. Tumblr has long been known as the best Twitter alternative for blogs and original content. |
How did I choose these best Twitter alternatives?
To find the best Twitter alternatives, I spoke with several users and experts to learn more about their experience. Different users appreciate social media for different reasons, so I considered why Twitter users join each service.
I also looked for apps similar to Twitter that offer an easy way to communicate and share content with others. To do this, I looked at the purpose of each service, such as blogging or live conversation. Special features like direct messaging, hashtags, and social mentions are all extra bonuses that highlight each service's differences.
Also important are privacy standards. When you use social media, you are at risk of having your account or personal information stolen. These Twitter alternatives help protect you while you use the service for greater peace of mind.
What is Twitter?
Founded in 2006 in San Francisco, California, Twitter hit the scene as a new popular social media site. Along with its app, it allows users to interact with one another. Designed for brevity, this service features short messages called tweets that are made up of 280 characters or less. Users can tag other users and use hashtags to follow certain topics.
Who owns Twitter?
Elon Musk now owns the service after a $44 million purchase and a six-month-long ordeal. However, his leadership has been plagued by disgruntled users who take issue with Musk's free speech policy. The reinstatement of controversial accounts like Donald J. Trump and Kanye West, plus massive layoffs and changes to privacy standards, have left users ready to jump ship as they look for the best alternatives to Twitter.
That is where these best Twitter alternatives come in.
Are there alternative best Twitter alternatives worth considering?
There are, of course, many other social media sites that are excellent alternatives to Twitter. This is a look at two of our favorites.
For other options, check out the top picks for the best to-do list apps, the best podcast apps, and the best workout apps.