Replaces Facebook
European alternatives to Facebook
Share updates and interests in other communities
Browse the category: Microblogging services
For people using Facebook to share updates and discuss interests, the microblogging services below cover that part of social networking. Check the community, privacy settings and moderation rules before moving.
Mastodon and Pleroma offer open source software that communities can host themselves. Vennjoy focuses on cultural discoveries and small circles; its ownership is unresolved, so it appears separately from verified recommendations.
European options
| service | Country | Hosting | Open source | Free plan | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Mastodon |
 Open source |
✓ | — | ||
 Pleroma |
Open source |
✓ | — |
Mastodon
Open source federated microblogging network
Mastodon is an open source microblogging service built as a federated social network. Instead of one central company, anyone with the technical knowledge can run a server where people register, much like email providers. Servers talk to each other over the open ActivityPub protocol, so you can follow and interact with accounts hosted elsewhere.
Open sourceOpen source♻Services without verified European control
Kept here for transparency, but excluded from the European options and totals. How we classify services →
Questions
Do these services replace every Facebook feature?
No. These comparisons concern posts, conversations and shared interests. Marketplace, advertising tools and existing Facebook groups are outside this comparison.
Is Vennjoy verified as European-owned?
No. Its story documents a Brussels origin, but the reviewed public evidence does not establish its ultimate controller. The product page explains the legal-identity and hosting uncertainties.
Can I move my Facebook contacts and groups automatically?
Do not assume automatic migration. Check each service’s import options and arrange with your contacts where to reconnect.