Connect Mastodon to Shift so you can merge all your web apps into your browser
Download ShiftWhat is Mastodon?
Mastodon is free, open-source software for decentralized social networking and microblogging. Instead of operating as a single centralized service, Mastodon runs across independently managed servers known as instances. Users create an account on an instance but can generally follow and interact with people on other compatible servers.
Mastodon supports posts containing text, images, video, audio, polls, links, content warnings, and accessibility descriptions such as image alt text. Users can reply to posts, mention other accounts, favorite posts, and boost them to their followers. Depending on the Mastodon version and instance configuration, users can browse feeds such as their Home timeline and additional local or federated views.
Communication between Mastodon servers uses ActivityPub, an open protocol also supported by other services in the fediverse. Each instance can establish its own registration policies, moderation rules, blocked domains, storage policies, and other server settings. Organizations and communities can join an existing instance or operate their own, with hosting and administration requirements depending on the deployment.
How Mastodon works in Shift
Add Mastodon from the Shift App Directory to give your Mastodon web interface a dedicated app tile in the Shift sidebar. Because Mastodon accounts can belong to different instances, Shift's multi-account functionality can be useful when you maintain accounts on separate servers or manage personal, organization, and community profiles.
For example, create a Space for community management with Mastodon, your email account, and the documentation or asset library used for social posts. Open your Mastodon Home timeline to review posts from accounts you follow, then open the compose interface alongside a document or asset library using a side-by-side view. You can write a post, attach media, add alt text, configure a content warning when appropriate, and publish without closing the reference material.
For engagement workflows, keep a Mastodon timeline open while reviewing notifications for replies, mentions, favorites, boosts, and new followers. If you manage accounts on multiple instances, separate Spaces can keep each Mastodon session alongside the communication and content tools associated with that account.
Instance administrators and moderators can also use Shift to keep the Mastodon administration interface alongside internal moderation tools or documentation. For example, an administrator can review a reported account in Mastodon while keeping community rules visible in another app. Actions such as account restrictions, suspensions, report handling, and domain-level moderation remain controlled by Mastodon's administration interface and the policies of that instance; Shift provides access to the web interfaces but does not replace Mastodon's moderation controls.
Focus Mode can limit the visible workspace to the Space being used for posting or moderation. Session persistence keeps supported Mastodon sessions available after restarting Shift, although individual instances can still require reauthentication based on their own security and session policies.
Alternatives to Mastodon
- Bluesky — A decentralized social network built around the AT Protocol rather than ActivityPub; consider Bluesky when you want decentralized identity and customizable feeds within a different social-networking architecture.
- Threads (by Meta) — A social platform connected to Meta's ecosystem and Instagram identities; consider Threads when integration with an existing Instagram presence and Meta's broader social network are priorities.
- X (formerly Twitter) — A centralized social platform built around public posts, replies, media, trending discussions, and real-time updates; consider X when participation in its existing audience and centralized network is a requirement.
- Reddit — A discussion platform organized around topic-specific communities called subreddits rather than individual federated servers; consider Reddit when community discussions organized by subject are more important than following accounts across a decentralized network.
- Post News — A social platform oriented around news, publishers, and community discussion; consider it when evaluating news-focused social platforms rather than self-hosted or federated communities. Check its current availability and product status before comparing it with Mastodon.
FAQ
1. What is a Mastodon instance?
An instance is an independently operated Mastodon server. Each instance can have its own domain, administrators, registration process, community rules, moderation policies, and blocked servers. Users on different instances can generally interact when their servers federate with one another.
2. What is the difference between the Home, local, and federated timelines?
The Home timeline primarily contains posts from accounts you follow. Local views can surface public activity associated with your own instance, while federated views can expose public activity that your server knows about from connected servers. Exact timeline options and behavior can vary by Mastodon version, instance configuration, and web interface.
3. What does boosting a post on Mastodon mean?
A boost is Mastodon's equivalent of resharing another person's post to yo
