Welcome to the definitive source for comparing and selecting social media platforms. Here you will find detailed information to help you choose a social media tool that fits your needs. This publication is dynamic and will be updated as these platforms enter and leave the market and as their advertised feature sets change. If you see anything that is missing or incorrect, please let us know in the comments below.
The two core requirements for the social media alternatives listed here are: a news-feed that shows all friends' activities; and the ability to post text, files, images, or videos (text and files being the most important). We built a custom framework around this data, so it is almost trivial for us to add, remove, or update data as social media platforms change over time.
There are several questions to ask yourself in deciding which social media platform(s) to use:
- For individuals, what are your goals? (e.g. If privacy is high on your list, check out Spreely; to explore new interests, checkout Hello).
- For businesses: Which platform are your customers already using? Which ones match the content you create? Which aligns with your marketing goals?
Many social-media users like to take advantage of ad blockers. If that interests you, check out: Ad Blocking Extensions & Plugins.
We reached out to a cohort of industry experts to get some initial feedback on what features are most important in social media platforms. We’ve ranked the top ten tools in our research according to their responses. This top ten list is continually updated as we get more feedback. But we highly suggest you participate in our custom social media platforms survey so you can layer in your own importance prioritization for each feature:
Top Ten
Social Media Platforms
as of April 2021
Note: If we mark a specific social network as not having a particular feature, that only means we did not see that feature advertised in their public marketing content. We focus almost exclusively on publicly verifiable facts in our research.
People and businesses are getting creative and looking for more suitable options on social media platforms. To this end, our analysts have done comprehensive research on 21 social media platforms, with over 160 data points, and more than 500 feature points. We also cover 24 features commonly found on social media platforms.
With the comprehensive research provided here, you’ll be making an informed decision. You’ll definitely want to take our survey to layer in your own feature importance scoring before deciding on a solution. We put together a scatter plot that ranks each social media platform based on it’s features and business qualities:
Sorted Feature Strength is a number that was calculated by looking at 24 different features such as Platform Moderation, Video Messaging, Search Function, Report Abuse Option, News Feed, File Sharing, etc.
Our comprehensive Ordered Lists include a sorted business score, sorted software score, raw feature count, domain authority, and age of the platform. Click on each to expand the ordered list:
| Tool | Age |
| 24.0 Yrs | |
| BlackPlanet | 23.8 Yrs |
| Minds.com | 23.3 Yrs |
| Gab | 22.3 Yrs |
| 20.1 Yrs | |
| 17.9 Yrs | |
| VK | 14.5 Yrs |
| Tumblr | 14.3 Yrs |
| InLinx | 10.3 Yrs |
| MeWe | 5.2 Yrs |
| Hello | 4.8 Yrs |
| Befilo | 4.1 Yrs |
| Zoimas | 4.0 Yrs |
| USA.Life | 3.6 Yrs |
| Nap-Sack | 3.2 Yrs |
| Woddal | 2.8 Yrs |
| Lyka | 2.6 Yrs |
| Colleqtiv | 2.3 Yrs |
| Epistimo | 1.9 Yrs |
| Spreely | 1.8 Yrs |
| Desentric | 5 Mo |
We trust that this publication will save you many hours of research. Bookmark this page, and be sure to share it with your colleagues and friends. What elements do you find important when deciding on a social media platform? What other tools should we include that we’ve missed? Please engage with us in the comments below. We love your feedback!
Click on the images below to see an introduction video for the tool, if one is available.
Social Media Tools are listed below in no particular order:
Minds.com
Minds.com Comparison Details
Free trial: Not Available
Pricing: Not Available
Feature summary: Blockchain based, Minds provides payment to users when they create content, refer friends, and drive traffic.
Age of Software/Company: 23.7 Yrs
Best Minds.com 2021 Alternatives
MeWe
MeWe Comparison Details
Free trial: Not Available
Pricing: Not Available
Feature summary: Provides user-friendly features, dedicated newsfeeds, control over what is shared, and users maintain ownership of their content.
Age of Software/Company: 5.6 Yrs
Distinctive features:
Best MeWe 2021 Alternatives
Twitter Comparison Details
Free trial: Not Available
Pricing: Not Available
Feature summary: Some of Twitter's goals are: to be transparent, provide a free place for people to converse, and improve their tools and technology.
Age of Software/Company: 20.4 Yrs
Best Twitter 2021 Alternatives
Tumblr
Tumblr Comparison Details
Free trial: Not Available
Pricing: Not Available
Feature summary: Enables users to easily create any kind of blogs, from jokes to fashion to stories, and everything in between.
Age of Software/Company: 14.6 Yrs
Best Tumblr 2021 Alternatives
Spreely
Spreely Comparison Details
Free trial: Not Available
Pricing: Not Available
Feature summary: Enables users to control their experience by saving newsfeeds, keeping personal credentials private, and freely expressing themselves.
Age of Software/Company: 2.2 Yrs
Industry thought leadership blog: Click to visit blog.
Best Spreely 2021 Alternatives
VK
VK Comparison Details
Free trial: Not Available
Pricing: Not Available
Feature summary: Very popular in Russia, VK provides efficient communication tools that enable people to connect to services, companies and other people.
Age of Software/Company: 14.8 Yrs
Distinctive features:
Best VK 2021 Alternatives
LinkedIn Comparison Details
Free trial: Not Available
Pricing: Not Available
Age of Software/Company: 18.3 Yrs
Industry thought leadership blog: Click to visit blog.
Best LinkedIn 2021 Alternatives
Hello
Hello Comparison Details
Free trial: Not Available
Pricing: Not Available
Feature summary: A mobile app that connects people with shared interests, far away and locally.
Age of Software/Company: 5.1 Yrs
Best Hello 2021 Alternatives
USA.Life
USA.Life Comparison Details
Free trial: Not Available
Pricing: Not Available
Feature summary: A free, conservative alternative to Facebook, USA.Life provides online safety and less censoring.
Age of Software/Company: 3.9 Yrs
Industry thought leadership blog: Click to visit blog.
Best USA.Life 2021 Alternatives
Facebook Comparison Details
Free trial: Not Available
Pricing: Not Available
Feature summary: Enjoy connecting with family, friends and others using photos, videos and more.
Age of Software/Company: 24.4 Yrs
Distinctive features:
Best Facebook 2021 Alternatives
Epistimo
Epistimo Comparison Details
Free trial: Not Available
Pricing: Not Available
Feature summary: Interesting platform with a transparent algorithm.
Age of Software/Company: 2.3 Yrs
Best Epistimo 2021 Alternatives
Zoimas
Zoimas Comparison Details
Free trial: Not Available
Pricing: Not Available
Feature summary: Great for changing social media addiction habits.
Age of Software/Company: 4.4 Yrs
Best Zoimas 2021 Alternatives
Woddal
Woddal Comparison Details
Free trial: Not Available
Pricing: Not Available
Feature summary: Connect with friends, share your news through photos, status, and more.
Age of Software/Company: 3.1 Yrs
Industry thought leadership blog: Click to visit blog.
Best Woddal 2021 Alternatives
BlackPlanet
BlackPlanet Comparison Details
Free trial: Not Available
Pricing: Not Available
Feature summary: The black experience is vast. Make your statement, increase your connections.
Age of Software/Company: 24.2 Yrs
Best BlackPlanet 2021 Alternatives
InLinx
InLinx Comparison Details
Free trial: Not Available
Pricing: Not Available
Feature summary: Innovative network aimed at bringing friends and family closer.
Age of Software/Company: 10.7 Yrs
Best InLinx 2021 Alternatives
Gab
Gab Comparison Details
Free trial: Not Available
Pricing: Not Available
Feature summary: A network that forwards free speech and information flow.
Age of Software/Company: 22.7 Yrs
Distinctive features:
Best Gab 2021 Alternatives
Lyka
Lyka Comparison Details
Free trial: Not Available
Pricing: Not Available
Feature summary: Message and follow friends. Earn gems using the app.
Age of Software/Company: 2.9 Yrs
Best Lyka 2021 Alternatives
Colleqtiv
Colleqtiv Comparison Details
Free trial: Not Available
Pricing: Not Available
Feature summary: Enjoy connecting with friends and community, with an emphasis on natural health.
Age of Software/Company: 2.7 Yrs
Best Colleqtiv 2021 Alternatives
Befilo
Befilo Comparison Details
Free trial: Not Available
Pricing: Not Available
Feature summary: Enjoy being friends with every member on the network.
Age of Software/Company: 4.4 Yrs
Best Befilo 2021 Alternatives
Desentric
Desentric Comparison Details
Free trial: Not Available
Pricing: Not Available
Feature summary: Connect with family and friends in a unique way.
Age of Software/Company: 9 Mo
Distinctive features:
Best Desentric 2021 Alternatives
Nap-Sack
Nap-Sack Comparison Details
Free trial: Not Available
Pricing: Not Available
Feature summary: Easy way to enjoy connecting with family and friends.
Age of Software/Company: 3.5 Yrs
Best Nap-Sack 2021 Alternatives
FEATURE DESCRIPTIONS | |
|---|---|
Block Other UsersAllows users to block other people on the social network. This prevents others from tagging the user and prevents others from seeing things posted on the users timeline. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 18 |  |
Search FunctionEnables users to search user-generated content, for example: friends, status updates, news, images and videos. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 18 |  |
Text MessagingThe ability to send or post text-only messages to an individual, a group of people, or to your timeline. This is different from SMS/MMS messaging. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 17 |  |
News FeedA data format that provides users with up-to-date content. Users may have some control over what their news feed contain. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 17 |  |
Join or Create GroupsAlso known as a community, groups are created by users. Also, users can join a group, post to a group, or read from whatever forum or community that they are interested in. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 15 |  |
Report Abuse OptionAllows users to report posts or something, that goes against the community standards (if any). Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 15 |  |
Mobile AppThe software provides a mobile application designed to run on a mobile device, using IOS or Android. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 15 |  |
Image MessagingSame as text messages, but also allows images only or images and text. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 14 |  |
Video MessagingAllows sending a message in the form of a video file, to other people or groups, using a built-in chat or messenger. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 12 |  |
Create Pages / BrandsYou can create pages or brands for your business or other transactions, then you can also manage them. Posting on your pages is a great way to let your customers and fans know what your business is doing. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 11 |  |
Private MessagingEnables users to send direct messages one on one, without having those messages seen by anyone else. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 11 |  |
Create ConnectionsCreate connections with other people by adding them to your contacts or friends list. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 11 |  |
Share With ConnectionsAbility to share or post a message, photo, video, or other file that only those people, you are connected with, can see. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 10 |  |
Follow and SubscribeYou can follow or subscribe to other people and receive a notification if they are commenting, sharing, posting, or live streaming. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 10 |  |
File SharingEnables users to share files (with possible restrictions), like videos and images, by attaching the file to a post, a comment or by sending as a direct message. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 9 |  |
Mention and TaggingYou can mention someone's name in your post or tag them outside of the post box. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 9 |  |
Schedule Future PostsEnables users to schedule a post, to be published on some future date and time. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 8 |  |
Platform ModerationIf the platform actively moderates content (either through management of volunteer moderators, or through paid employees) without waiting for user reports, then the platform is considered moderated. Unmanaged volunteer moderators would not be considered moderation by the platform. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 8 |  |
Fact-CheckingThe platform itself takes responsibility for verifying the accuracy of content that is shared. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 7 |  |
Real Time Voice CallsSupports real time audio calls between one or more people. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 3 |  |
Real Time Video CallsSupports real time video calls between one or more people. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 3 |  |
No AdvertisementsProvides a setting that enables users to turn off all or most advertising. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 2 |  |
Open Source CodeGives permission for people to use, modify or distribute the source code or content of the software. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 1 | ){kind=icon} |
Live StreamingAbility to create a live streaming video that can be posted on your newsfeed, on your wall, or profile page. Number of Social Media Platforms that have this feature: 1 |  |
Wow, what a great, comprehensive article on social media options! Thanks for all the data, it makes comparisons really easy.