It’s really easy:
- Choose a server on Fedi.Garden ⧉ or JoinMastodon.org ⧉. All the servers listed on those sites have committed to certain standards of reliability and responsible content moderation ⧉.
- Click on the server you want, this will take you to the server’s own website where you can do the actual signing up.
- Once you have signed up, you can log in on that server’s website, or if you prefer you can use a Mastodon app.
Don’t worry too much which server you join, as you can always transfer your account to another server (including your follows and followers).
How do I find out more about a server before signing up?
If you click on a server on Fedi.Garden, that will take you to the front page of the server’s website. You can then find out more about the server by clicking the Learn More link (on the desktop website) or the ⋯ icon (on the mobile website).
If you’re finding a server via JoinMastodon.org, it will take you straight to a sign-up page. Click the link marked Back at the bottom of the sign-up page to go to the server’s front page, and you can then click Learn More or ⋯ to find out more about it.
Do I need to sign up via the Mastodon app?
No. Each server is totally independent, you can sign up directly on the server’s website without having anything to do with the app. Once you’re signed up, you can use that account on any Mastodon app you want.
Are all servers listed on Fedi.Garden and JoinMastodon.org?
No. There are thousands of servers in total on the Fediverse, and only a small fraction are listed on these curated sites. The reason these sites only list a small fraction is because they need to meet certain minimum standards ⧉ and also be open for sign-ups. Some servers are closed to sign-ups, or don’t meet the standards, or they just don’t want to be listed on curated sites.