Many people start on Mastodon through the official app, simply called “Mastodon” on the Apple App Store, Google Play and F-Droid. However, you don’t need to use this! In fact most people prefer alternatives if they’ve tried them.
Because Mastodon is deliberately built on open standards, it doesn’t restrict you to using it in one particular way. Most people who try third party Mastodon apps tend to prefer them to the official app. There are also lots of people who prefer using their server’s website, and afficionados might enjoy more obscure options too. The basic idea is to let the user choose how they access their Mastodon account instead of imposing anything on them.
But don’t I need to sign up through the official app?
No! You can sign up via your server’s website, and sign-ups actually work better when done through websites. Once you’ve signed up, you can use your account on any Mastodon app you want. You can even use the same account on many different apps at once, which is a great way to compare them.
Does the official app have any special privileges as it’s official?
No. The official app has no special privileges, all apps have equal access to Mastodon’s features. Mastodon’s server software deliberately uses open standards and does not force anyone to use it in any particular way.
Anyone is free to write software that works with Mastodon servers, and as a result there is a wide range of third party Mastodon apps that people can use with their account.
So why does the official Mastodon app exist?
Mastodon was originally launched in 2016 and all of its apps were third party. It was originally designed to be used through third party apps or your server’s website.
The official Mastodon app (for Android and iPhone/iPad) was only introduced in 2022 as new people were expecting there to be an official app and couldn’t find “Mastodon” in the app stores. The official app was originally intended mainly as a beginner’s app and was not meant to replace the third party apps. It was mainly just a simple way into Mastodon for people who discover their social networks through app stores.
Can you provide more info about all the different ways of using my Mastodon account?
Yes! See the sections below for details on all the options for accessing Mastodon.
Third party Mastodon apps
Third party apps tend to have more and better features than the official app, and most people who try them prefer them. Because Mastodon uses open technical standards, all apps have equal access to all of Mastodon’s features. The official app has no special advantages or privileges compared to third party apps.
There are lots and lots of Mastodon and Fediverse apps out there. The official Mastodon website has a very long list ⧉, but if you just want a few quick simple suggestions here they are:
Are there any other options apart from official and third party mobile apps?
Yes, there are also lots of other things you can try such as websites, web apps, desktop apps, third party web interfaces, command lines and retro apps. More info about these below.
Mastodon websites and web apps
Mastodon’s official web interface is excellent and well-developed. You can use Mastodon entirely through your server’s website and you can also install your server’s website as a web app on your phone or tablet. The web app works very much like a normal app, including notifications.
The Mastodon web interface is excellent and generally gets the latest features first. It can be used on computer, tablet or phone, and automatically changes to a mobile layout when used on a small screen.
Third party web interfaces
There are also third party web interfaces you can use instead of your server’s official website. You can log in using the same details, but it will work through a different interface.
One of the most popular third party web interfaces is called Elk, which you can try at elk.zone ⧉ and if you’re a techy person you can find out more at Elk’s Github page ⧉.
Another popular option third party web interface is Phanpy which can be tried at phanpy.social ⧉ and there is more info about this for techy people on Phanpy’s Github page ⧉.
Desktop Mastodon apps
There are a number of desktop apps for Mastodon, click to find out more about them.
Command line and TUI apps
If you’re a techy person, you can use Mastodon through a CLI or TUI if you prefer.
Retro computer apps
There are (amazingly!) Mastodon apps available for many home computers of the 1980s and 1990s.
What happens to my posts and messages and followers if I switch to a third party app or use the website?
All your Mastodon posts, followers, messages etc are stored on your server, and not on any app.
Your account will be exactly the same whether you’re using the website, the official app or a third party app, as these are all just different methods of accessing the same account on the same server.
What about safety? How safe are third party apps compared to official apps?
Obviously it’s a bad idea to ever install random unknown apps from sources you don’t trust. However, the apps listed on this page are all well-established and recommended on the official Mastodon website’s apps page ⧉ (scroll down past the official apps section).
Also, most of the apps listed are open source so their workings are visible to anyone in the outside world. Any shenanigans in what a widely-used open source app does would be noticed fairly soon by outside observers.
How do apps handle my account password? Do the apps find out what my password is?
The security of your Mastodon account works like this:
- The sign-in process on all apps (including official, third party and web apps) happens through your server’s website, which the app opens in a built-in web browser window. That’s why the sign-in page on apps looks like your server’s website, because it is your server’s website.
- None of the apps listed on this page ever find out your password, all they know is that your server confirmed the password is correct and the server gave the app a special access token so it could work with your account. (Tokens are just a special code that lets apps and servers talk to each other.) That’s why the sign-in process always includes asking you about permissions, it is your server asking if you want to give that app an access token.
- If you don’t want an app to work with your account any more, you can cancel its access token by logging in on your server’s website and going to Preferences > Account > Authorised Apps, then click the Revoke button for the app you want to remove permission from. Revoking will stop that app having any access to your account. (On the mobile website, you may need to click the cog icon ⚙️ and then ☰ in the top right corner to get to the Account section.)
- You can make your account even more secure by enabling two-factor authentication, an extra layer of security which means even if someone found out your password they would still be unable to log into your account.
Can I use more than one app at the same time?
Yes, you can use the same account on many different apps simultaneously if you want to. You can also be logged into your server’s website or web app.
Can I use more than one account on the same app?
Yes, you can use multiple accounts on the same app, the apps all let you be logged in with several accounts and switch between them when posting etc.