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Pixelfed

Free#31 of 33 in Image Hosting

Pixelfed: A social photo platform for federated communities, not dedicated image storage. Ranked #31 of 33 in Image Hosting by our editors (6.1/10); pricing: Open source; best for users wanting federated photo sharing.

6.1/10Editor score

Visit Pixelfed

Pixelfed6.1 Visit Pixelfed

At a glance

Editor score
6.1 / 10
Pricing
Open source
Best for
Users wanting federated photo sharing
Paid from
Free
Facts checked
20 Sep 2026

Where it wins
- ActivityPub federation connects independently operated servers.
- Supports photos, videos, albums, collections, stories, and portfolios.
- Offers web, iOS, Android, API, and self-hosted deployments.
Where it doesn't
- Server limits and capabilities vary by instance.
- Its social publishing focus may not suit storage-first workflows.
- Choosing an instance adds operational and policy considerations.

Our verdict on Pixelfed

Pixelfed is an open-source, decentralized photo-sharing platform built around ActivityPub federation. People can join independently operated servers, publish photo and video posts, follow accounts, comment in threads, send direct messages, and participate across the fediverse. It is available through the web, official iOS and Android apps, API endpoints, and self-hosted deployments. Private sharing, photo filters, portfolios, 24-hour stories, albums, and collections extend it beyond a basic upload gallery. Pixelfed suits communities and individuals who want social photo publishing across connected servers.

Its main strength is ecosystem fit. ActivityPub and the broader Fediverse let accounts interact across independently operated servers rather than confining activity to one service. The media upload and post-management API endpoints add a path for integrations and custom workflows, while web and mobile access support different usage patterns. Server capabilities and limits can vary, including upload size, supported media types, registration rules, bandwidth, storage arrangements, and available features. That flexibility benefits communities selecting or operating an instance, but it also means the server choice is part of the product experience.

Pixelfed’s feature breadth is social rather than storage-first. Photo and video posts, threaded comments, collections, albums, stories, portfolios, filters, and direct messages create a publishing environment with community interaction. It should be considered by users who value federation, open-source software, and participation across the fediverse. Users seeking a centrally managed image host focused primarily on storage, uniform limits, or a dedicated asset-management workflow should choose a more narrowly focused alternative.

Your product? Our editors can test Pixelfed in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

Pixelfed pricing

Plans Open sourceFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.

See plans on pixelfed.org

Pixelfed fact sheet

Free plan	Not verified
Paid from	Free
Storage limit	Not verified
Bandwidth limit	Not verified
Max file size	Not verified
API access	Yes
Private sharing	Yes
Custom domain	Not verified
Image transformations	Yes
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android
Integrations	2 integrations: ActivityPub, Fediverse
Pricing	Open source
Website	pixelfed.org
Facts checked	20 Sep 2026

Pixelfed integrations

Pixelfed lists 2 integrations on its own site.

ActivityPub
Fediverse

Alternatives to Pixelfed

See all Pixelfed alternatives →

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The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Pixelfed for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.

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Featured on iTechGuides

Pixelfed is listed in our Image Hosting directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update