The official Android client for Mastodon: sign up on a server or log in to an existing account and read your home timeline on the phone.
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About Mastodon
Mastodon for Android is the official app of the decentralised Mastodon network, version 2.13.3, released by Mastodon gGmbH. You can download the APK here or install it from the store, then sign in to the server where your account lives. It is a client: your posts and followers live on the server, and the app gives you a phone-sized way to read and write.
Frequently asked questions
What does the app do?
It shows your home timeline, notifications, lists, hashtags and the explore tab, and lets you post text, photos, video and polls. You can also create a new account right inside the app: it offers a list of servers to join, the same way the official apps page recommends starting out. Because Mastodon servers federate, the app lets you follow people who are on other servers too, not just yours.
Do I need a Mastodon account first?
No. On first launch you either log in to an existing server or pick a server and sign up. An account belongs to one server; if you later want another community, you can register there or move your account and followers.
Where does the file come from, and is it safe?
The APK on this page is the release the developers publish on GitHub, package name org.joinmastodon.android. Its signature was checked against the developer key used for previous releases, and the file was scanned for malware. If you prefer a store, the same app is on Google Play. Note that builds from different stores are signed differently, so switching source means reinstalling.
How do I install the APK?
- Download the file and open it from the notification or the Downloads folder.
- Allow installation from this source when Android asks, only for the browser or file manager you used.
- Open Mastodon, then log in or choose a server to join.
Is it free?
Yes. The app is open source under the GPLv3 licence, with no ads and no paid tier. The code is public in the mastodon-android repository on GitHub.
Are there alternatives?
Plenty of third-party clients work with Mastodon accounts. Pachli is one of them, with its own page on this site, and adds options such as several accounts and more timeline filters. The web version of Mastodon runs in any browser if you do not want an app at all.
Requirements
Any reasonably current Android phone or tablet and an internet connection. The app talks to your server directly, so the speed of loading depends on that server as much as on your device.
Safety and privacy
The app keeps an access token on your phone and signs in through your server's login page. Posts and messages are stored on your server, where the admins can access them. Turn on two-factor authentication in the account settings of your server for extra protection.
Pros and cons
- Pro: official app, simple layout, sign-up and server choice built in.
- Pro: free, open source, no ads.
- Con: fewer power-user options than third-party clients.
- Con: direct messages are not end-to-end encrypted, as on Mastodon in general.