Misskey is an open-source and decentralized social media platform. It’s decentralized in the sense that it has many instances hosted by independent servers but each instance communicates seamlessly with the other.
Mastodon on the other hand is free and open-source software that allows users to self-host their social networks. This means it is also a decentralized platform that allows users on the same network to interact seamlessly.
Both Mastodon and Misskey belong to the fediverse which is a group of social media networks that are hosted independently but can communicate with each other without complications.
Users on the Fediverse can send and receive updates from different social media platforms within the setup.
Decentralized social networks like Misskey and Mastodon have been growing in popularity because they do not impose things like censorship and commercialization of services.
In this article, we’ll do a thorough review of the two and find out which is better.
Let’s go.
Misskey vs Mastodon – Features
Misskey
Misskey Instances
Misskey allows server owners to create their own instances which is why you can expect to find over 700 of them. Before you sign up, you can go through the list of instances and choose the one you want to open an account on.
Regardless of the instance you pick, you will still be able to communicate seamlessly with people who sign up on other instances. In fact, you will even be able to communicate with people on other networks within the fediverse.
Notes
On Misskey, user posts are referred to as Notes. Once you post a note, others can respond by writing a reply in the comment section, adding emojis, or inserting animated texts.
Just like on any other social media platform, you can upload videos, photos, audio clips, and GIFs on your timeline. You also have the option to add a content warning sign so that those who are browsing through the platform are aware of what they are about to watch or read.
Misskey incorporates Threads which is a version of Notes with a slight difference. With Threads, you are free to create posts with up to 3000 characters by default. This makes it possible for you to keep the conversation going for an even longer time.
Decentralization
One of the most important features of Misskey is that it operates on a decentralized infrastructure. There are over 875 independent servers that host the system so no one can really claim control.
Everyone is free to use the network as they deem fit. The community stresses that users should try as much as possible to be respectable and ethical while on the platform.
However, there is no way of enforcing any rules and regulations which is one of the reasons why the platform is gaining popularity. In most instances, it is up to the community to condemn any behavior deemed to be going overboard.
The platform supports ActivityPub which is the open and decentralized social network protocol that facilitates independent hosting.
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Ad-Free Experience
Misskey does not support any form of third-party advertising which is why you are not going to find any on-page or pop-up adverts when browsing through the various pages available.
Of course, as a primary user, you can decide to display adverts on your page but these are only going to appear on your page so that only users who visit your page will be able to view them.
Charts
The platform includes charts that allow users and admins to understand what exactly is going on with their timeline. Charts make it easier to understand the number of people that are viewing their posts.
It also gives an overview of the overall engagement of each post and can be ideal in determining the demographics of those who are involved.
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Misskey Drive
Misskey incorporates a cloud-based storage drive that allows you to organize and store files safely. As a user, you can upload pictures and post on your timeline but then keep a copy in your cloud-based drive.
This makes it possible for you to easily retrieve the picture and repost it or share it on another platform. The drive lets you organize files according to the type of media they contain.
For instance, you can organize videos in one folder, audio tracks in another, and documents in another. You can even create multiple files just so you make things even simpler.
Plugins and Widgets
Miskkey has a Plugin Store you can visit to find some of the most useful plugins to incorporate into your platform. Plugins can help enhance the way you interact with others.
They can also be key to ensuring that you get the information you need to carry out more successful campaigns especially if you are using the platform for marketing purposes.
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Mastodon
Mastodon Instances
Immediately after you land on the Mastodon home page, you’ll notice a section allowing you to create an account. When you click on it, you’ll be redirected to a page with various instances of the software.
Instances are versions of the software hosted on private servers. These instances may be run by individuals or groups.
To help narrow down your search for the right instance, consider using the filter that includes things like region, language, topic, and sign-up speed, among other details.
Some servers will approve your new account automatically as long as you enter the right details. Others may require approval from an Admin so you may have to wait for a while.
Mastodon Posts
Mastodon allows users to post updates on their timelines as frequently as they like. Posts can be in the form of written texts, videos, music tracks, images, and even GIFs.
Other users on Mastodon can reply to your posts by writing in the comment section, adding emojis, or retweeting your post just like it happens on X which was formerly Twitter.
As is the case with Misskey, any posts on Mastodon can be accessed and interacted with by other users on the network regardless of their primary server. Additionally, users on other networks within the fediverse can view and interact with the posts.
Mastodon slightly differs from Misskey because it supports @mentions. That means if you include the @ symbol before any user’s name they will be notified about the post or comment you have made.
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Decentralization
Like Misskey, Mastodon is built on a decentralized infrastructure. Because of its open-source policy, anyone can acquire the source code and host their own instance on their server.
This design ensures that users enjoy more freedom when compared to mainstream platforms that often have strict guidelines. The Mastodon community insists that when users upload content that is violent or explicit there should always be a warning sign accompanying it.
The community discourages bullying and any other thing that may make the network unpleasant for other users. Nonetheless, enforcing these rules or guidelines can sometimes be problematic because of the decentralized nature of the infrastructure.
Mastodon also supports ActivityPub which is the same network protocol used in Misskey.
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Ad-Free Experience
Similar to Misskey, Mastodon does not support any third-party advertisements. That is why when surfing through the platform you are unlikely to encounter on-page or pop-up ads.
The network is also big on privacy which is why it does not allow third-party trackers to access your data.
Again as an individual user, you can decide to market products on your timeline through videos or written content. That means you can still use the platform for marketing purposes without necessarily becoming a bother to other users.
Security
Mastodon is quite serious about the safety and security of users which is why it includes a two-factor authentication feature. Of course, you are free to activate or deactivate it depending on the level of security you wish to attain.
Misskey does not have two-factor authentication by default. However, you can download and install a plugin to add this feature.
Multiple Account Support
As a member of Mastodon, you are free to create multiple accounts and use them freely on the network. This makes it possible for you to create different profiles for different purposes without having to worry about breaking any rules and regulations.
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Mastodon Drive
As opposed to Misskey, Mastodon does not have a cloud storage solution. Instead, you can store your files on the local drive of the server that is hosting the Mastodon instance you are using.
This can be quite an inconvenience if the hard drive has limited space and yet you wish to store a significant amount of data.
Misskey vs Mastodon – Resource Usage
Mastodon comes in a small file size so it installs relatively fast. It also takes up a little space on the user’s device.
Since it is a lightweight software, it uses a fraction of the system’s resources. That is why you’ll notice that it does not have any significant impact when it comes to running multiple programs simultaneously.
Misskey also comes in a relatively small file and takes up little space on the device. However, it utilizes a significantly larger amount of system resources when compared to Mastodon.
If you have an older device with limited space, it may be a good idea to consider signing up for a Mastodon account. However, if you have a modern device with enough space, you are free to choose any of the two options since they both offer exceptional performance.
In general, Mastodon wins when it comes to utilizing a small amount of system resources.
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Misskey vs Mastodon – Customization and User Interface
Mastodon
A casual look at the Mastodon user interface reveals that it bears a lot of similarities to the user interface of X.
At the top left side of the home page is the search bar where you can enter keywords or names to find other users or information available on the network.
In the center of the home page is the timeline where you can scroll down to find your own posts or posts by other users. You can browse through general posts or narrow them down to hashtags by clicking on the relevant section.
There is also the option to click on the News section to find out about the latest happenings in your region and around the world.
On the far right side of the home page, you can Explore new things or click on the Live Feeds section to find events that are happening in real time.
Mastodon allows you to change themes and the layout of your account. You can include background images and even change the color scheme of your account.
You also get to switch from dark to light mode with a click of the button. You are free to upload a real picture for your profile or use the avatars that are readily available on the platform.
You also get to set whether to get e-mail notifications or not.
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Misskey
Misskey also features a UI that resembles the X interface. However, it has more sections compared to both X and Mastodon.
At the center of the home page, you get the overview section where you can find some of the latest notes from other users. You can sort out your feed by clicking on the Clips, Pages, and Gallery sections.
On the right-hand side of your device’s screen, you’ll notice notifications which basically include things that you are tagged in or those you have been following and participating in.
When it comes to customization, Misskey allows you to do quite a number of things. For starters, you are free to switch up different themes depending on the instance you are hosted on.
You can even change from light mode to dark mode just to increase visibility when you are browsing in poorly lit areas. You have the freedom to change the layout to something that is more intriguing.
You also have the freedom to add widgets in different sections of the interface just to make things more accessible and convenient. Finally, you can add plugins and widgets to extend functionality or simplify certain tasks.
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Misskey vs Mastodon – App Support and Compatibility
Mastodon
One of the best things about using Mastodon is that it has official apps for both Android and iOS devices. You can download the official apps from Google Play and the Play Store.
There are also many third-party apps that work just fine. Mastodon includes a well-documented open API that you can access and create your own app to use as you deem fit.
It works fairly smoothly in relation to other fediverse platforms. Of course, there are a few exceptions which you can find in the About section of the Mastodon website.
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Misskey
Unlike Mastodon, Misskey does not have any official apps for Android and iOS devices. However, you can find several unofficial apps to download and install on your device.
An example of an Android app for Misskey is Milktea which you can download from Google Play. Another example of an unofficial app you can use on your iOS device is Kimis which you can download from the App Store.
Like Mastodon, Misskey works relatively smoothly with other fediverse platforms so you should not have any difficulty interacting with people or information on other platforms.
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Misskey vs Mastodon – Community and User Base
Mastodon
As of March 2023, Mastodon had over ten million registered users worldwide which is quite impressive especially if you consider that it is not a mainstream platform. Most people on the platform use it for social networking purposes.
That means they tend to use it to get information, entertainment, and connect to other people from across the world. Mastodon features a variety of communities that form around given interests.
That means you can find Mastodon communities based on relationship topics, others based on politics, and so forth.
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Misskey
Compared to Mastodon, Misskey pales in the number of registered users. As of August 2023, Misskey had slightly over 639,000 users.
Many of the people who are on the platform use it for social networking with contacts regionally and internationally. It is also used for business purposes because it offers some advanced features for collecting data and creating marketing campaigns.
Misskey communities are as diverse as those on Mastodon. As long as you have an interest or a topic of concern, you can always browse through the communities available and join one that meets your expectations.
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Conclusion – Misskey vs Mastodon
Mastodon and Misskey bear several similarities including the fact that they are both free and open-source. They are built on decentralized infrastructures which helps enhance freedom of speech and association.
On the other hand, Mastodon has an extremely big user base when compared to Misskey. It takes up a significantly smaller space on your device and uses a fraction of your system’s resources.
If you are looking for a platform that offers more features, Misskey should be your first choice. However, if you care about system resources and need reliable mobile apps, Mastodon is the one to go with.
