There are lots of different types of server on the Fediverse. You can follow and interact with people on different server types, because they all talk to each other using a common standard. See the guide “What is Mastodon? What is the Fediverse?” for more details.
Here are some of the best-known server types on the Fediverse, click on a platform’s name to find out more about it:
Mastodon – Twitter-style microblogging platform
BookWyrm – Social reading platform, an alternative to Amazon’s GoodReads
Friendica – General social network with no character limits, sort of like Facebook used to be on its older interface
Funkwhale ⧉ – Music and podcast storage and sharing
Ghost – Blog and newsletter platform including optional paid subscriptions, a free open alternative to Substack
GoToSocial – Safety-conscious microblogging platform
Manyfold – Organise and share 3D printing files on the Fediverse
Mobilizon – Event organisation, the Fedi’s alternative to Facebook Events
OwnCast – Video livestreaming with a chat window at the side, very much in the style of Twitch
PeerTube – YouTube-style video sharing site which uses P2P technology to allow even small servers to have videos go viral, as the more people view a video the more bandwidth it gets
PixelFed – Photo sharing site, similar in style to Instagram and Tumblr
WordPress – Popular blogging and website platform, now with optional Fediverse compatibility
WriteFreely – Minimalist blog where focus is on the text, like a calmer version of Medium
…and that’s just some of them! If you’re a techy person, you can see a more comprehensive list of server types at delightful fediverse apps ⧉.