Since it launched in 2003, 4chan has gone from being just another niche corner of the internet to being one of the most popular and controversial image board websites around.
It is estimated that the platform receives over 22 million unique monthly visitors, with around half of those visits originating from the United States.
Despite its popularity, 4chan is hardly a one-of-a-kind platform. There are several other 4chan alternatives such as 2chan, 8kun, and 420chan that you can use to share images and discuss interesting topics with individuals who share similar interests.
4chan rose to prominence because it offered audiences from all backgrounds the anonymity and freedom to post whatever they wanted without fear of getting censored.
People flock to the different forums on the image board to share images and opinions and spew often hateful rhetoric that they might not be able to express so freely in real life or on other keenly moderated social media sites.
In recent years, 4chan has become a topic of conversation in mainstream media and internet communities, and rarely for good reasons.
The website has proven itself to be an incubator for violence, misogyny, hate speech, political uprisings, cyber attackers, and groups with cult-like following like the Incel movement.
The anonymous image board’s increasing notoriety is one of the reasons why mild-mannered users are withdrawing support from 4chan in favor of similar platforms with less noxious reputations.
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Why Explore 4chan Alternatives?
There are many reasons why you might need to look for alternatives to 4chan.
For starters, you may simply desire to have diverse options so you’re not limited to interacting with the same audience pool all the time.
Sure, 4chan has a massive user community with lots of different topic boards waiting to be explored but it’s still nice to have other websites that you can go to engage with people or discuss interests that you can’t find on 4chan.
In addition, there may be times when you can’t easily access 4chan because the website has been blocked on the computer you’re using. Or times when a high volume of people is trying to access 4chan at the same time, leaving you unable to reach the website.
In such moments, having other sites similar to 4chan that you can visit can save you from boredom and provide a channel for you to have engaging discussions with people from all parts of the world.
Also, even though you enjoy the anonymity and invitation to think and speak freely that 4chan extends, you may not be comfortable with the extreme ways many users choose to exercise this privilege.
Regardless of your motivations for seeking out websites like 4chan, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of other image boards catering to various interests in which you can find sanctuary.
Understanding the Appeal of 4chan
Before we get into the alternatives, it’s important to get a sense of how 4chan came to be so influential, the features it offers users, and the controversies the platform has drummed up along the way.
Unique features and culture that attract users to 4chan
The reason 4chan is so popular is because it’s a place where people can say the quiet part out loud. There’s little to no filter on what type of content—images, comments, videos, etc—you can post so it grants people permission to be their worst selves.
To top this off, the website is available on the clearnet and is very easy to use. This means that users don’t have to go to great lengths to hide their identities or gain access to the platform; they just have to visit the site, choose a board, and start posting.
4chan doesn’t ask users to create an account before they can use it, which makes it a haven for people who do not be accountable for the things they do or say. To use 4chan, you have to create a new thread under a board/topic or post on an existing thread.
Unlike other social platforms and forums where your posts live on forever unless you delete them, 4chan threads expire from the servers after a while—from a few hours to a few days—so nothing is permanent.
Another draw of 4chan is the availability of diverse boards where communities of people with similar interests can gather to have a battle of minds. However, the boards that garner the most attention on the site are the bullshit /b/ and politically incorrect /pol/ boards.
These boards have been used for pranks, cyber-bullying, political extremism, and raids of other online platforms.
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Controversies and challenges associated with 4chan
Considering the latitude 4chan gives its users, it’s no surprise that it has been at the center of quite a number of controversies in recent times.
The platform has been linked to several mass shootings, as well as fabricated terrorism threats in the United States. 4chan users were also responsible for coordinating repeated online attacks including doxxing and death threats against Zoe Quinn, the creator of the game Depression Quest, and several female gamers and game journalists.
The controversy has come to be known as Gamergate. In 2010, users of the platform launched a massive online raid and cyberbullying attacks against a 10-year-old girl known as Jessi Slaughter.
In 2013, 4chan became a global news topic once again after members hatched a plan to make the hashtag #cutforbieber trend on Twitter to lure teenagers into cutting themselves for Justin Bieber’s sake.
4chan users have also been criticized for leaking dozens of celebrity nude photos and trying to prank women into posting their nides in support of Jennifer Lawrence.
They are also behind the irresponsible Bikini Bridge fitness trend prank which caused a stir in the body dysmorphia, weight loss, and eating disorder community.
All these controversies go to show that anonymity fused with a sense of community can be a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands that can cause real-world harm to many.
Criteria for Choosing 4chan Alternatives
When shopping around for similar websites to 4chan that you can explore, there are a few factors you’ll want to take into consideration to ensure you come up with relevant options. And ultimately, select an alternative that is right for your specific needs and preferences.
The key criteria that should be taken into account include:
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1. Anonymity
Consider the level of anonymity the website is offering. Is it better or less than what 4chan provides?
Will you have to create an account with your name and email address that can be traced back to you or does the platform allow you to access it without signing up or submitting personal details?
Is your IP address going to be stored on the image board’s servers? If yes, will it be scrubbed after a while?
If your goal is to be completely anonymous then you need to prioritize image boards that don’t require registration, ask for personal details, or track your IP address.
2. Board diversity
Presently, 4chan has over 70 active boards, each one covering a different topic from politics to anime, movies, paranormal, and even erotic content.
If you’re looking for an alternative that’s focused on one subject matter, then board diversity wouldn’t be a priority for you. But you might still benefit from choosing a platform that has many different tags or forums related to that central topic.
The more diverse the boards an image board website has, the more likely that it will cover multiple interests of yours. So you’ll have more stuff to talk about and more people to talk about it with.
3. User interface
Image boards aren’t known or beloved for their user interface. Still, you want an option that doesn’t look too clunky or take you too much time to figure out.
You should be able to visit the website and start using it right away to share your images and thoughts even without having any technical experience.
4. Moderation policies
Different image boards have different ways of moderating their platform. Some have comprehensive rules that you need to follow at all times to avoid getting kicked out, temporarily banned, or suffering some other consequence.
Others like 4chan only have a few rules but leave it up to moderators to decide what content should be removed from the platform.
If you want a platform that gives you unmitigated freedom to do, say, or post almost anything, look for an image board with lax moderation policies. But if you want an image board where decorum is the order of the day, choose a website with rigid content moderation rules.
Now that you know how to choose the best alternative for you, let’s take a look at some of the best options worth considering.
Alternative 1: Diochan
Diochan is an anonymous image board that was launched in 2008 to provide Italians with an alternative to 4chan that allows them to converse with people in their native language.
However, people from the United States and other English and non-English-speaking countries can still use the platform to post images and start discussion threads.
You just have to use a browser like Chrome that has built-in translators that can translate the page language to a language you understand.
According to Similarweb, Diochan generated 73,000 website visits in April 2023. This proves that the image board has a thriving user community.
Diochan’s user interface and layout are typical of what you’d expect from an image board. When you land on its homepage, you can choose the board you want to upload content to.
There’s an NSFW board for adult content like nudity and pornography and various SFW boards for general topics including anime & comics, video games, culture, YouTube & Tiktok, politics, and more.
To upload images or videos to your chosen board, you’ll be asked to provide your name, email, and the file or link you want to share. To remain anonymous to other users, you can leave the name and email boxes empty.
Like 4chan, you have to be 18+ to use Diochan. However, the total number of users who visit the platform is unclear.
What sets Diochan apart from 4chan is that it is law-abiding, has stricter rules, and does not allow any content that is illegal under Italy and United States laws to be posted.
If you upload, comment, discuss, request, or disseminate content on Diochan that violates existing regulations under these legal systems will be banned.
And if relevant authorities request your IP address so as to take legal action against you, you can expect Diochan to comply and forward that information to them. This data can then be used to track you so keep that in mind before you decide to flout the law.
You won’t be able to get away with doing whatever you like and saying anything you want on Diochan as you would on 4chan because the website takes a more intentional approach to moderation.
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Alternative 2: Raddle
Raddle is a platform similar to 4chan that allows you to share ideas and images and mingle with other people online. You can start conversations, comment on other people’s posts, and different topics to your heart’s content.
According to the platform’s About page, Raddle users are malcontents, outsiders, and wayward dreamers who pine for freedom, self-determination, and social justice.
Unlike other image boards that tend to have sloppy designs, Raddle has a stylish user interface. The platform is open source, so the code is maintained and updated by volunteers from the Raddle community.
Data available on Similarweb shows that Raddle receives a substantial stream of traffic. In April 2023, the website recorded over 44,400 visits.
Raddle has a lot of unique features that are hard to come by on 4chan and most other anonymous image boards. This includes customization options for themes, sorting, user bios, and more.
It gives you the freedom to block forums and users that you don’t want to see or interact with. In addition to not requiring email addresses or any personal information to create an account, Raddle automatically wipes IP addresses from their servers.
This means that no one will be able to track your activities on the site and uncover your identity even if they wanted to.
Another characteristic that separates Raddle from 4chan is that it has a strict zero-tolerance policy for bigotry and fascist ideas. So if you’re just looking for a platform where you can express anything you want no matter how hateful, Raddle is not the place for you.
Alternative 3: Zerochan
If you’re looking for a 4chan alternative that primarily caters to the needs of anime and Manga audiences, Zerochan might be the perfect image board for you.
Zerochan currently houses over 3 million images covering different categories of anime including new and upcoming series that you can discuss.
Anime and manga lovers will get a kick out of (re)discovering old shows and movies they had forgotten about and getting to know what other fans are loving at the moment.
You can get recommendations for new content that’s worth your time and stumble upon interesting manga book series that will keep you occupied when you need a break from the internet.
Beyond sharing your views on your favorite or most-hated anime, you can also browse Zerochan to find high-quality anime wallpapers to use on any of your devices.
According to Similarweb, Zerochan receives over 2 million unique website visits per month, with most of the traffic coming from the United States, followed by Indonesia, France, China, and Vietnam.
Zerochan requires you to register an account before you can upload images or videos to the platform, unlike 4chan. However, the registration process only calls for you to enter a username, password, and email address.
So if you still want to maintain some anonymity, you can sign up for Zerochan with a throwaway email address that can’t be traced back to you.
Since Zerochan is focused on one subject matter it doesn’t follow the typical board structure. Instead, it features discussion panels with tags that you can use to search for and find the Anime you want to contribute images or comments to.
The tags cover anime/manga series, characters, games, visual novels, art styles, and more.
Alternative 4: 7chan
7chan is another 4chan alternative dedicated to providing a wide variety of image boards that people can flock to discuss issues that interest them anonymously.
The available board categories include comics, philosophy, literature, weed, paranormal, history, drugs, weapons, programming, science & technology, and many more.
You can upload images of your own or view content shared by other people and comment on them. 7chan has a set of rules—global and board-specific—that govern how people can use the platform and what they should avoid doing.
For instance, 7chan prohibits you from posting any content that is illegal to view in the United States or Luxembourg such as child pornography, revenge porn, and illegal copies of copyrighted content.
The website also restricts trolling, flame wars, and the posting of pornographic materials to specific boards. Failing to comply will result in your posts being deleted, your account getting permanently banned, and/or your IP address being reported.
7chan has a substantial user base so you’ll have plenty of people to keep you company. In April 2023 alone, over 238,000 visits were recorded on the site.
Like 4chan, you don’t have to sign up or create a user account on 7chan to gain access to all the corners of the platform. This means that you can speak freely and share your honest opinions on the topics of the day without consequences as long as you stick to the house rules.
However, 7chan also gives you the option to verify your identity using tripcodes so other users can tell what posts belong to you.
Also, 7chan provides various features that you can use to refine your user experience such as the ability to edit or delete your posts, tag other users, change your font, quote someone else’s post, or sage and age.
Another interesting value proposition for 7chan that users will either love or hate depending on their intentions for the platform is dedicated content moderation.
The website’s moderators do a thorough job of keeping the place sane by punishing rule breakers and removing illegal or inappropriate content.
Alternative 5: 8kun
8kun, formerly known as 8chan, was created by 4chan user, Fredrick Brennan to function as a Reddit-style image board where people could create boards on their own without first seeking admin approval.
The original version of the anonymous image board (8chan) was launched in 2013. However, it was taken off the clearnet in 2019 after it was linked to the mass shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand in March, then El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio in August of that year.
Since hosting and domain registration providers in the United States kept denying service to 8chan, the website rebranded as 8kun and returned to the clearnet in November 2019 using a Russian hosting provider.
8kun has impressive board diversity so you can pretty much find content on any topic you’re looking for. You just have to search for a name or keyword and 8kun will show you results for relevant boards and threads.
Similarweb’s data posits that 8kun received over 477,000 visits in April 2023, making it one of the most popular alternatives to 4chan.
Some of the board categories available on 8kun include ransom, politics, fringe, paranormal, hentai, news, video games, femdom, etc.
There is very little content moderation happening on 8kun so you’re pretty much guaranteed to find an avalanche of hate speech, queerphobia, child pornography, and other offensive posts.
8kun sets itself apart from 4chan by democratizing board creation. Instead of being a function reserved solely for admin, any user has the freedom to develop and moderate new boards on any topics of their choosing.
8kun positions itself as a bastion for free speech so users can post anonymously without registering an account like on 4chan. The platform doesn’t store any personal information about users including their IP addresses.
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4Chan Alternatives – Recap
From the analysis of 4chan, it is clear that the platform encourages extremist views and gives malicious people a cover under which to perpetuate vile and mischievous acts.
However, the platform is not all bad. There are still some good people who use it to simply discuss harmless topics and share photos of things that have resonated with them.
Regardless of where you stand on 4chan’s net positive and net negative value to society, there are plenty of other alternatives out there that you can replace it with.
Even though 4chan is still one of the most influential image boards out there and doesn’t seem to be slowing down, there’s no harm in exploring other platforms.
You never know; you might find a community where you fit in better and can have more meaningful and productive conversations.
