X (formerly Twitter) may still be the world's largest micro-blogging platform, but it's no longer the only game in town. We've tested out dozens of social media networks to bring you the best alternatives available on the internet.
Most Similar to X: Plurk
What We Like
Adorable interface.
360-character limit on posts.
Massive global user base.
What We Don't Like
Responsive user support team.
No way to filter posts by language.
Perhaps too similar to X for some people's tastes.
Signup form doesn't accept all email services.
Plurk has been branded as a “social network for weirdos,” but you'll find people discussing a broad range of mundane topics from knitting to Netflix. The company is in Taiwan, so much of the discussions center around Asian pop culture.
Plurk allows anonymous posts, so you can share your thoughts with the world without sharing anything else. A useful Time Machine feature lets you see all the plurks from days past, making it easy to search for old posts.
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Threads: Best Facebook and Instagram Integration
What We Like
Well moderated and curated.
Share up to 10 photos or videos in one post.
Uses your Instagram contacts.
What We Don't Like
You have little control over the content in your feed.
Fewer features than other platforms.
Requires an Instagram account.
No iPad app.
The first thing people notice about Meta's X alternative is how “pleasant” it is. Thanks to strong content moderation, you won't find all of the negativity that's common elsewhere. News and politics are nowhere to be found. Instead, you'll seerecipes, crafts, vacation photos, and lots of pets.
It's very similar to Instagram in that regard, which makes sense because both platforms are owned by Meta. When you upload groups or photos and videos, they appear side-by-side and you can swipe through them without expanding the post.
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Make and Moderate Your Own Social Network: Mastodon
What We Like
Thousands of communities focused on specific interests.
Create your own communities.
500-character limit on posts.
What We Don't Like
Complicated to set up.
All the options can feel overwhelming at first.
Inconsistent community guidelines and policies.
Mastodon is a bit different due to its decentralized nature. Rather than offering one giant social media platform, users can create, host, and run communities or “instances.” Each instance has a different set of conduct policies determined by the hosts.
It may seem like a lot to take in at first, but once you join some communities, you'll find that it's an excellent tool for making new, like-minded friends. Mastodon has apps for Android and iOS, so you have many options for customizing your experience.
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A Safe Social Network for Teens: Amino
What We Like
Safe social space for teens.
Strictly enforced community guidelines, with 24/7 moderators.
Chat with other users and watch videos together.
What We Don't Like
Busy app interface.
One-on-one conversations are not moderated.
Community topics are largely limited to niche interests.
No iPad app.
Amino is similar to Mastodon in that it enables users to make and moderate communities centered around specific topics. Most communities have stricter guidelines than X, which is good because the user base tends to be on the younger side.
Community moderators can create polls, quizzes, and other neat interactive content. Amino also facilitates voice chat and “screening rooms” where you can watch videos with other users. The platform prioritizes anonymity, and you can use different handles in different communities.
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Get Lost in Blogs: Tumblr
What We Like
Well established with plenty of people to connect with.
Clean interface and easy to use.
Easy to browse and find new pages and posts on a variety of topics.
What We Don't Like
Reliance on hashtags can be hard to grasp.
Reblog and comment system can be difficult to follow.
Some concerns about content theft.
Tumblr is one of the oldest social media sites around. It launched in 2007, and while it's maybe not as popular as it used to be, it's still going strong. If you see a meme on another platform, it was probably on Tumblr a month ago.
The platform boasts a huge community that shares photos, art, writing, and jokes. If you're used to how X works, it's similar enough to pick up. The differences, including an even higher emphasis on hashtags for discoverability, can take a little getting used to, but Tumblr has plenty to find and see.
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Best Premium Micro-Blogging Platform: Micro.blog
What We Like
No ads or sponsored content.
Curated content suggestions (no algorithms).
Migrate existing blogs for free.
What We Don't Like
Must pay to unlock all features.
More geared toward professional bloggers.
If you're looking for a more robust micro-blogging platform, and you don't mind paying a little each month, Micro.blog might be the perfect home for you. Rather than a replacement, Micro.blog is another tool for those who wish to extend their social media reach.
This X/Twitter-like website supports cross-posting to Tumblr, LinkedIn, Mastodon, Bluesky, and more. If you have a WordPress or Medium blog, you can directly import and export content between the platforms.
You can try Micro.blog for free. Pick from three tiers after the trial, depending on the features you want. The cheapest plan is $5 /month, with pricier options for additional features like creating multiple blogs, sharing videos, and building private notes.
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Best Up-and-Coming Social Network: Hive Social
What We Like
Chronological feed.
Add music to your page, MySpace-style.
Familiar interface.
Polls to interact with users.
No character limit for posts.
What We Don't Like
App can run slowly.
A relative newcomer, Hive Social sports a familiar interface and a feed that is always chronological, so you don't miss posts from people you follow because of an algorithm.
One unique feature is that you can select music to display on your profile to show off what you like. If you're using the iPhone app, you can tie into Apple Music. Make your profile stand out through the gallery, Zodiac sign, and pronouns options.
Like most of these apps, Trending and For You sections help you keep tabs on what's important.
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