Skip to content

What is Pixelfed?

Pixelfed is the Fediverse alternative to Instagram.
It’s built for photo sharing — but without the ads, algorithms, and endless scrolling.

Instead of chasing likes or being nudged by what the algorithm wants you to see, Pixelfed gives you a clean, chronological, and ad-free feed of the people you actually follow.

📸 What’s the point of Pixelfed?

Pixelfed is designed for:
- Photo sharing → your daily life, hobbies, art, or travel.
- Visual storytelling → like Instagram used to be, before influencers took over.
- Community connection → photos are for people, not for algorithms.

In short: Pixelfed is a great alternative to Instagram if you want the joy of sharing photos without the pressure or surveillance.

✨ What makes Pixelfed special?

  • Chronological feed → you see posts in the order they’re shared.
  • No ads, no data mining → your attention isn’t the product.
  • Community-driven → each server has its own culture and moderation.
  • Federated → you can share with Mastodon, Friendica, and other Fediverse platforms too.

👥 Who runs Pixelfed?

Like Mastodon, Pixelfed is open-source and decentralized.
- The software is developed by volunteers and community contributors.
- Each server (instance) is run independently — by individuals, nonprofits, or small collectives.

This means you’re not handing your photos to a single corporation that profits from them.

🚪 How do I join Pixelfed?

Joining Pixelfed is like picking an email provider: you choose a server, make an account, and you’re in.

👉 Start here: joinpixelfed.org

Or browse directories:
- Fediverse Observer (Pixelfed list)
- Instances.social (Pixelfed filter)

Here are a few well-known servers you can try:
- pixelfed.social — the flagship server
- pixey.org — arts and creativity focus
- envs.net — small and privacy-friendly
- photog.social — community for photographers

👉 Don’t worry if you’re unsure where to start — you can move later without losing your followers.

📱 How do I use Pixelfed?

  • Post photos just like Instagram — single shots or galleries.
  • Follow friends, creators, and communities.
  • Interact with people across the Fediverse (your Mastodon followers can see your Pixelfed posts).
  • Mobile apps are in development, but the web app works smoothly on phones.

🎯 Why it’s worth trying

Pixelfed feels like Instagram before it became an ad machine.
- It’s about sharing moments, not optimizing reach.
- It respects your privacy.
- It’s calm, simple, and people-centered.

📚 Additional Sources