Many users start on Mastodon through the official app, simply called “Mastodon” on the Apple App Store, Google Play and F-Droid.

However most users prefer alternatives if they’ve tried them.

Because Mastodon is deliberately built on open standards, it doesn’t restrict users to use a particular app or a particular interface.

Wait, there are alternatives? What are they?

Most users will probably want to try Mastodon through third party apps and their server’s website. The third party apps are especially good on phones, the website interface is especially good on computers.

(Advanced users might want to also try desktop apps, official web apps, third party web apps, CLI/TUI apps and retro computer apps.)

Why use alternatives to the official app?

Mastodon’s website and third party apps tend to have a lot more features than the official apps, and tend to get new features more quickly.

If user wants to get the most out of Mastodon, might want to try the alternatives.

No need to sign up through the official app?

No! Sign up via users server’s website, and sign-ups actually work better when done through websites.

Once signed up, use account on any Mastodon app.

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 users can use with their account.

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:

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

techy savy users: use Mastodon through a CLI or TUI

Retro computer apps

There are (amazingly!) Mastodon apps available for many home computers of the 1980s and 1990s.

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 untrusted sources.

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)

• • • on f-droid.org
    • https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.keylesspalace.tusky
    • https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.joinmastodon.android.moshinda
    • https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=dev.dimension.flare

How do apps handle account password?

The security of Mastodon account works like this:

• 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 user does not want an app to work with account any more, cancel its access token by logging in on server’s website and going to Preferences > Account > Authorised Apps, then click the Revoke button for the app to remove permission
• Revoking will stop that app having any access to account (On the mobile website, may need to click the cog icon ⚙️ and then ☰ in the top right corner to get to the Account section)
• make account even more secure by enabling two-factor authentication, an extra layer of security which means even if someone found out  password they would still be unable to log into your account.

Can user more than one account on the same app?

Yes, multiple accounts on the same app