Mastodon
A flagship server of the open-source federated social network.
Mastodon at a glance
Mastodon is a social media website and one of the most visited sites in United States, currently ranked #457 in the country. It was founded in 2016 by Eugen Rochko and is headquartered in Berlin, Germany (large U.S. audience). Today Mastodon is owned by Mastodon gGmbH. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 10 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through donations, sponsorships. Its closest rivals include bsky.app, x.com, threads.net.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 9.4 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 9.7 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 10 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 10.6 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct76%
- Organic search13%
- Referral6%
- Paid3%
- Email2%
Audience & demographics
- Men52%
- Women48%
- Age 18-2430%
- Age 25-3429%
- Age 35-4420%
The audience is concentrated in United States, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- United States86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 3 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- United States
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| mastodon | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| login | Top 10 | High | — |
| sign up | Top 10 | High | — |
| download app | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the United States web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 88% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading social media apps in United States
Company information
- Website
- mastodon.social
- Sector
- Social Media
- Owner
- Mastodon gGmbH
- Owner type
- Nonprofit
- Founders
- Eugen Rochko
- Founded
- 2016
- Headquarters
- Berlin, Germany (large U.S. audience)
- Employees
- 20+
- Ownership
- Mastodon gGmbH controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $8 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English, many others
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, referral
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $8 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Nonprofit
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Mastodon operates a social platform focused on United States. A flagship server of the open-source federated social network. Revenue comes mainly from donations, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Donations
- Sponsorships
Products & services
International presence
- Primary market
- United States
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (United States)
- #457 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading social media site in United States
- Global rank
- 5000
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| bsky.app | ≈ 6 million / month | #458 class competitor | — |
| x.com | ≈ 4.5 million / month | #459 class competitor | — |
| threads.net | ≈ 3 million / month | #460 class competitor | — |
What is Mastodon?
Mastodon (mastodon.social) is a social platform serving users in United States. A flagship server of the open-source federated social network. It ranks #457 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the social media category.
Who owns Mastodon?
The site is operated by Mastodon gGmbH, founded by Eugen Rochko. The company was established in 2016 and is headquartered in Berlin, Germany (large U.S. audience). It employs around 20+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Mastodon at roughly 10 million visits per month, about 0.3 million per day. Around 88% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 11.4 pages per visit with an average session of 12 min.
How Mastodon makes money
Revenue comes primarily from donations, alongside sponsorships.
Competitors in United States
Its closest rivals include bsky.app, x.com, threads.net.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 2016
Mastodon is founded in Berlin, Germany (large U.S. audience).
- Growth phase
Expands its social media offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #457 among the most visited websites in United States.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Very high daily engagement
- Strong creator and community ecosystem
- Free to use with broad reach
- Self-serve advertising for small businesses
Cons
- Moderation and misinformation criticism
- Privacy and data-use concerns
- Algorithm changes hurt organic reach
- Ad load increases over time
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Mastodon?
Mastodon is operated by Mastodon gGmbH. Nonprofit structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Mastodon headquartered?
Mastodon is headquartered in Berlin, Germany (large U.S. audience).
When was Mastodon founded?
Mastodon was founded in 2016 by Eugen Rochko.
How many employees does Mastodon have?
Mastodon employs approximately 20+ people.
What is Mastodon's revenue?
Mastodon's revenue: ≈ $8 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are Mastodon's competitors?
Main competitors in United States include bsky.app, x.com, threads.net.
How does Mastodon make money?
Mainly donations, sponsorships.
Is Mastodon publicly traded?
No — Mastodon is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Mastodon gGmbH.
How many visitors does Mastodon get?
Third-party estimates place Mastodon at roughly 10 million visits per month, mostly from United States, with 88% mobile traffic.
Is Mastodon safe?
Mastodon is an established social media site founded in 2016 and ranked #457 in United States; use the official domain mastodon.social and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsmastodon.social
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageUnited States and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos