Consumer demand for alternatives to Big Tech’s social apps is intensifying. Alternative social networks like Bluesky and Mastodon are gaining momentum with those looking to leave X, while others are building alternatives to Tiktok, which are banned by open protocols. Similarly, many independent developers are also working on an open, decentralized alternative to Instagram, the Meta flagship photo sharing app with over 2 billion active users each month.
While none of the newcomers are ready to match the size and range of meta, their ability to carve out small niches in the shadows of meta is compelling. They are also arriving when investors begin to notice the growing open social web. Meanwhile, people on Gen Z have recently shown that they are more likely to leave Tiktok for another Chinese social app, rather than returning to Instagram.
Below are some of the apps that Mastodon and others are working to build Instagram alternatives with open protocols like At Protocol and Bluesky’s on ActivityPub.
pixelfed
Although it is not a new service, in January the photo sharing site launched its official mobile app for iOS and Android. The app is built on ActivityPub, used by Mastodon, a YouTube competitor called Peertube. Together, these apps form what is called “Fediverse.” This is a reference to the federation server that makes it.
Like Instagram, Pixelfed allows users to share and explore photos and videos, and send messages directly. Unlike Instagram, however, Pixelfed is an ad-free, open-source, distributed, and defaults to a chronological feed. This is a selling point for users.
Developer Daniel Superno said within the first two days on the market, Pixelfed’s mobile app had surpassed 10,000 downloads.
flash
Flashes, an Instagram alternative built on top of the Bluesky social network, opened the door to beta testers last week. Like BlueSky, the app runs on the AT protocol and is limited to the same image and video requirements in Bluesky.
It is essentially a photo-first BlueSky client, so users who post on Flash will see the posts on BlueSky, but BlueSky users’ comments about these posts will also be shown in Flash. The app is part of a trio of Bluesky clients built by developer Sebastian Vogelsang, and also includes app skeets and video app Bluescreen, like Twitter. Ultimately, the idea is to offer premium subscriptions across these apps, allowing people to switch clients.
Pink ski
Another Bluesky client, Pinksky, is also working on the idea of providing a photo-first view of social networks. The app, designed to attract previous Instagram users who want to connect via photos instead of viral content or reels, has a familiar interface that includes a tapable story section at the top. However, unlike new apps built from the ground up, Pinksky users can take advantage of the existing network of Bluesky friends and followers, even if those people are not yet Pinksky users.
For now, the app is just a Bluesky client, but if there is sufficient demand, Pinksky may extend to include other technologies, such as integration with ActivityPub and Nostr. So far, the app is at your disposal, but you may add a premium feature if you have enough growth to support monetization later.
Skygram
Currently ongoing work, Skygram is a web-based app designed to provide a more photo-centric Bluesky experience. Within Skygram, users can toggle interest-based feeds at the top of the screen, such as gardening, dogs, etc. Still quite basic, Skygram code will be available on GitHub as the work continues.
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