Pleroma is free, federated microblogging server software. You can join an existing Pleroma instance or run one yourself; instances use ActivityPub to exchange posts and other content with compatible services, including Mastodon. That interoperability does not mean every feature works the same way across every server.
What Pleroma is
Pleroma is software for operating a social-networking service, rather than a single central social network. Each operator runs an instance and controls its local service, while federation lets it communicate with other compatible servers. The project describes Pleroma as microblogging server software that can exchange messages with other servers supporting ActivityPub.
If you just want an account, you can register on a public instance. If you want control over the service and its administration, you can host an instance yourself. The official site notes that registration availability depends on the instance: some allow open registration, while others are closed or invite-only. Pleroma’s official site provides an introduction and directs users to instance-specific information.
How Pleroma federation and Mastodon compatibility work
Pleroma uses ActivityPub for server-to-server federation. The project lists Friendica, GNU Social, Hubzilla, Mastodon, Misskey, PeerTube, and Pixelfed among compatible software. In practical terms, accounts on different services may follow one another and exchange supported content through their servers.
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Compatibility is at the protocol and implementation level, not a promise of identical behavior. A remote service may handle a feature differently, and server settings can affect what is visible or permitted. Pleroma also supports the Mastodon client API, with Pleroma-specific extensions, so many clients built for Mastodon can connect. But a client’s support for the API does not ensure that it exposes every Pleroma feature. The Pleroma project repository describes the protocols and client API.
Frontends: the interface you use
The frontend is the web interface used to read and post on an instance. Pleroma-FE is the default user-facing frontend; its documentation describes a customizable, two-column microblogging layout. The project also lists Soapbox and Glitch-lily as alternatives. Availability and support can depend on how the instance is configured, so check the frontend offered by the server you plan to use.
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See the Pleroma frontend documentation for Pleroma-FE information, and the official project site for listed alternatives.
Joining an instance or self-hosting
| Choice | What it involves | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Join an existing instance | Create an account on a server operated by someone else; registration may be open, closed, or invite-only. | People who want to use Pleroma without installing or administering server software. |
| Host your own instance | Install and administer the server and its database, and decide how the local service is operated. | People who want direct control and are prepared to maintain a server. |
Self-hosting is not simply a way to obtain a different frontend: it makes you responsible for the service itself. The project’s repository describes installation options, while the official site points prospective users toward instances and project information.
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What you need to run a Pleroma server
The project identifies Elixir as Pleroma’s implementation language and PostgreSQL as its database. For Linux systems using glibc or musl on x86 or ARM, it recommends self-contained OTP releases. Source installation is described for unsupported platforms and for developers who want to edit the code. Consult the project repository and current installation documentation for prerequisites and deployment instructions for your platform.
The project says Pleroma can run on low-power hardware such as a Raspberry Pi, but that is not a guarantee for every workload. It specifically cautions against storing the database on the device’s internal SD card. Its repository text describes scaling on more powerful hardware as possible while characterizing the deployment as single-node. Treat those points as guidance from the repository, not a substitute for evaluating current requirements and your expected use.
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Features and current release information
The official API reference documents Pleroma-specific operations, including importing follows, blocks, and mutes; user MFA/TOTP operations; account deletion or disabling; notification controls; account moves; and emoji reactions. Whether you can use a particular operation depends on the client or interface you choose; API support alone does not establish that a third-party app provides a control for it. See the Pleroma API reference.
The project site directs readers to its announcements for release information, but the site content reviewed for this article does not establish a current version or release date. Check the project’s official site and announcements before choosing a release or planning an installation; no release cadence or maintenance status is asserted here.
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