Ever since billionaire Elon Musk took over Twitter, the platform has gone through some drastic changes. From changing its name to X, adding a new premium subscription, to recent policy changes regarding blocking users. This has led many users to abandon ship and look for other platforms to switch to. That’s why we have compiled a list of the best Twitter alternatives that you can use instead of X.
Best X or Twitter Alternatives to Replace Your Social Landscape
If you’re planning to move away from X (Twitter), you can check out any of the following platforms to switch to.
1. BlueSky
Over the past year, Bluesky has become the de-facto Twitter alternative making headlines all over the internet. The service reached over 25 Million subscribers by the end of 2024 and shows no signs of slowing down. The reason for this growth is the mess that X has become lately, but also its decentralized nature. Bluesky was conceptualized by former ex-Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and built along the lines of the same platform.
That could be why it reminds me of the good old days of early Twitter borrowing features like feed, posts, likes, block lists, a mute option, and more. They even added a trending tab recently and started promoting short-form video content like TikTok. If you have ever used Mastodon or other Twitter alternatives we’ve listed below, getting around BlueSky won’t take much time. But if you still need help then we have a complete beginners guide on Bluesky.
Pros Cons Decentralized platform Cannot create custom feeds Closest to Twitter in form and function Has its own trending feed No ads or sponsored content (as of now)
2. Threads
Seeing the backlash X received when Musk first changed its name, Meta was quick to release their version of the platform called Threads. This was previously one of our top Twitter alternatives, but now Bluesky has it beat. The biggest advantage it has over any other app in this list is its tie-in with Instagram. This makes signing up for the app almost a seamless experience. You don’t need to enter any details as all of it, including your username is fetched from Instagram.
With a minimalist interface, Threads lets you post text and voice updates with a limit of up to 500 characters. You can also post photos and videos up to 5 minutes long. The app had a lot of potential and garnered a lot of users upon its release. But couldn’t evolve in time resulting in people eventually getting bored of it. Still, it is home to 275 Million users as of January 2025.
Pros Cons Minimalist interface Deleting your Threads account is a hassle No ads (for now) No functionality to send messages Interoperable with Fediverse Can record and share voice clips
3. Mastodon
Besides Bluesky, Mastodon takes the spot for another good decentralized Twitter alternative. Just like the former, Mastodon also works like a search engine. It indexes each post, like, or repost while your account works as an independent website. Tech jargon aside, what makes Mastodon favorable are its Twitter-like features in tow here. You get tweets (referred to as toots), replies, bookmarks, hashtags, retweets, and more.
Speaking about features that you’ll miss on Mastodon, you’d not get quote tweets, direct messages, and adding unfollowed accounts to the list. With more than 1.5 million active users and apps available for iOS and Android, Mastodon is among the perfect Twitter alternatives. If you like the overall idea of Mastodon, there are some other Fediverse servers like Pleroma, Diaspora, and Misskey (visit) that you can also try.
Pros Cons Entirely decentralized Cannot send private messages High level of content moderation Interface could use a little polish Quick and easy setup process No advertisement/sponsored content
4. Reddit
Reddit needs no introduction since it is already considered the front page of the internet. It is more of a community forum than a social media platform. Many Twitter X-pats already reside here or flock to the site to clear their doubts about existing discussions with subreddits like r/outoftheloop or r/popular.
These micro-communities known as subreddits are the core of Reddit. And, you can join thousands of subreddits based on your interest. Content moderation is one of the best aspects of the site as moderators and users have the option of upvoting or downvoting posts to push popular and useful content to the top. Comparing Reddit and Twitter would be unjustified but the former has a lot to offer. That’s especially the case if you are migrating to a well-moderated and fun-to-be platform.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Community-driven platform | Takes a learning curve to explore communities |
| Anonymous posting allowed | |
| Can vote on posts and comments | |
| Communities are highly moderated |
5. Discord
If you are shocked to see Discord on this list, we have a case to make here. You know Discord as the chat app for nerds and gamers. But it has expanded beyond what it was originally famous for. With community-based servers, Discord has emerged as the latest platform to engage and be updated about the latest news related to your favorite topics.
While Discord and Twitter are miles apart in their approach, both happen to be a great hub for interactions. On Discord, you can chat with others using text, audio, or video in real time. You can also join community servers for discussion, host watch parties, etc. You can even text someone privately in the DMs. Though the interface of Discord is a complete departure from what you are used to on X.
Pros Cons More than just a social media platform Tailored for streamers and gamers No scrolling feed Interface might be overwhelming Can create or be part of different communities Connect with members over voice chat
6. Truth Social
Truth Social is a platform owned by the current U.S. President Donald Trump. It is a service built out of necessity after his ban from Twitter and Facebook in 2021. If it is still not ringing any bells, then this is the place where Trump announced to temporarily lift the ban on TikTok. Going by the context, you may have already guessed that this alternative can go politics-heavy.
If that isn’t a big issue for you, or you align with their political beliefs then you will find that it is a pretty compelling platform. On Truth Social, you can post with texts, images, GIFs, and videos but also allows for private messaging and Live TV service. The entire interface is similar to X, with the trending topics on the right and left panels, including all the necessary options. For a platform mostly catering to people on one side of the political spectrum, it is pretty well-made.
Pros Cons Well designed interface Can be too political for some Lets you send direct messages Can watch Live TV from the site Join groups and discussions
7. Bastyon
Claiming to be the first censorship-resistant social network protocol, Bastyon is based on blockchain technology. The social media site rewards creators for sharing videos in terms of PKOIN. So we already have the monetized part sorted out like it’s on X. Besides that, Bastyon shares a similar identity to Twitter in terms of looks with side tabs and hashtags.
Content has been divided into different categories like Memes, politics, crypto, technology, etc and you can add a tag to your post to demarcate the content into a category. If you are switching from Twitter, Bastyon will feel like a familiar place. The platform boasts to be censorship-resistant so you might come across some sensitive or questionable content. But it has the Twitter DNA you are familiar with which is why it made it to this list.
Pros Cons Open-source & decentralized Interface glitches sometimes Community-driven moderation Incentivizes posting with crypto Familiar look as Twitter
8. Micro.blog
Twitter in essence is a microblogging platform with fancy features and a clean UI. If you want to experience the thrill of expressing more in a limited number of words, then Micro.blog should be one of your favorite Twitter alternatives. With a word limit of 280 characters, it is your microblog with the option to view and comment on the thoughts of other bloggers. You can share text, photos, and videos on your timeline or choose to keep it private for your own blog.
The service also allows cross-posting for showing your posts on Twitter. Coming from Twitter, you will find plenty of features missing here. For example, there is no option to like a post because they believe in showing gratitude or acknowledgment via writing, no option to see your follower count and the biggest miss is the absence of hashtags. Instead, Micro.blog has a Discover tab to find new people to follow.
Pros Cons Cross-posting from Twitter allowed Subscription-based platform Customizable blog pages Not a big userbase Pretty clean interface
9. Spill
Spill is another contender that can be listed among Twitter alternatives because it was created by none other than former Twitter employees. The social media app looks like Twitter but has a lot more references to “Tea”. For example, when a user publishes a post, the app says “It’s brewing your tea,” instead of a recommended content feed, it has a “spill board” and the posts are called spills.
The UI is a complete departure from what you know from X, and it doesn’t have a proper web service. Instead, you can only use the app on your iPhones and Android. But even the Android app is not available in certain regions further limiting its audience. It has a vertical scrolling feed which is too chique for its good. A card game to play with your friends for some reason and their merch store. If I didn’t know better, I would say it was built by an influencer.
The reason it made it to this list is because many people jumping from Twitter are minorities looking for a safe place for discussion. This is where Spill excels, and offers tight moderation and limited toleration for hateful speech. This can be necessary for some groups which is why you can try out Spill.
Pros Cons Intuitive home feed Not available on Web AI-based moderation Limited availability on Android Can play game of cards with friends Visually cumbersome
10. Spoutible
This was a much-requested Twitter alternative and in essence, it does remind me a lot of the very early days of Twitter. Only carrying the essential features while trying to be the hip option for those looking for a secure place to discuss different topics and hang around. You will find the typical feed of text-based posts where you can also add links, images, and GIFs.
However, where it differs is that you can also explore related topics, and see news on the same. There’s also a Bundle feature where you can pick a category and it will suggest users who talk or post about the same so you can follow them. I found it to be a pretty neat concept and a good way to get started on Spoutible if you are new to it. However, the small user base does hurt the experience as your feed is more likely to come up as empty most of the time.
Pros Cons Twitter like experience Pretty barebones platform Includes podcasts, news on a topic Not a big userbase Suggests Bundles to get started
There are a few social media platforms that come close to Twitter in terms of functionality and features, but the above list of alternatives could help you begin the journey of transitioning away from X. If you believe that we have missed any website that deserves a spot here, do let us know in the comments.
Ajaay Srinivasan
