Pixelfed, the decentralized alternative to Instagram, unveils its mobile apps.

Pixelfed, a decentralized alternative to Instagram, has officially launched its mobile apps. This service utilizes the same ActivityPub protocol that powers other decentralized platforms such as Mastodon, PeerTube, and more recently, applications like Threads and Flipboard, as part of a growing movement towards a more open social web known as the fediverse. Pixelfed was created in 2018 by Daniel Supernault, who also recently developed Loops, a federated competitor to TikTok.

Like Instagram, Pixelfed allows users to share and explore photos and videos, as well as send direct messages. However, it stands out as an ad-free, open-source, and decentralized platform, defaulting to a chronological feed format, making it an attractive option for many users. In a context where many would prefer to join another Chinese app rather than return to Meta if TikTok's ban by the U.S. Supreme Court continues, Pixelfed's apps seem to have better chances of success due to users' intent to distance themselves from Meta's social networks.

Those interested in using Pixelfed can choose to join one of the community servers or even self-host their own Pixelfed instance, just like with other federated applications. Before the launch of the mobile apps, users could access Pixelfed through the web or via third-party mobile apps like Impressia. Now, the official apps for Android and iOS have been released following previous beta tests. The Android app was released just before the iOS app on Tuesday, reaching 10,000 downloads in just two days, according to Supernault on his Mastodon account. Additionally, the app has become number one in the social category on Google Play in several markets, including the U.S.

Supernault also reported that in the last 24 hours, 11,000 new users joined one of Pixelfed's most popular instances, pixelfed.social, which on Tuesday alone saw over 78,000 posts. Pixelfed's apps are free and do not collect user data.