What is Pixelfed? Quick Start + How it Works

What is Pixelfed?

Pixelfed is kind of like Instagram, but it’s run by communities instead of a big company – but it still works as one big photo sharing app.

You can share photos, follow people, like posts, and leave comments—just like you’re used to. The difference is there are no ads, no tracking, and it’s more focused on privacy.

Instead of being one big platform, it’s made up of smaller, independent servers that all connect to each other.

Why all the servers? It’s like peer-to-peer file sharing, but for social media. It ensures no one person can own the entire platform. You don’t need to stress about which server you’re on, and you can always switch later.

How Does Pixelfed Work?

Pixelfed is part of the Fediverse, a network of interconnected, independent servers (or “instances”). They all work together though, so don’t worry. Feeds connect servers which makes the experience feel like regular social media.

When you post, it goes to other servers, and when others post, it comes to your server. There’s a bit more to it, but that’s the basic idea.

For example, if you have an account on any server, like pixelfed.social, the largest server created by Pixelfed’s founder, you can connect with users and content from other servers across the network.

Use hashtags to get noticed, but typically, your feed will show posts from:

  • Accounts you follow
  • Hashtags you follow
  • Content shared by others

If you’re interested in content from a particular server, find and follow users or hashtags from that server. Once you follow them, their posts will start appearing in your feed. Most servers are ‘general’ but some have a bit of a niche, like photography, or people from New Zealand.

How does Pixelfed Feeds work?

The solution to algorithms controlled by companies!

Because you have control, you have to first build your algorithm by liking content, following people and hashtags. Here’s how:

Local Feed

The local feed shows posts from people who are on the same server (or “instance”) as you. If you’re using pixelfed.social, the local feed will display posts from all users on that server. It’s a great way to explore content shared by people in your immediate Pixelfed community.

This makes more sense if let’s say you joined pixelfed.nz, with a focus on New Zealanders.

Global Feed

The global feed includes posts from across the entire Fediverse, not just your server. However, what appears here may vary depending on how your server is configured.

Some servers may filter or prioritize certain types of content, but in general, the global feed is where you can see activity from users on other servers that are part of the Fediverse network.

Tip: if you want a regular experience, or to grow a following, pick a server that has the most people, and their description is more ‘general’. But after a while of interacting with hashtags and posts, you’ll be more connected regardless of server choice.

Discover Page

The discover page is tailored to help you find content and users you might like. It’s often based on popular or trending posts, hashtags, and suggested accounts to follow.

How They Work Together

  • The local feed focuses on your server’s community.
  • The global feed connects you to the entire Fediverse, enabling interactions across servers.
  • The discover page helps you find personalized content, whether local or global, based on your interests.

These features make Pixelfed a flexible platform for exploring both close-knit and broad, interconnected communities.

How to sign up to Pixelfed?

To sign up, you choose a Pixelfed server to join.

Pixelfed.org is the main website, but not the app. The app is whatever server you sign up to.

Here’s the server list to the Pixelfed app. The main original server is pixelfed.social.

Each server is independently run, but they all connect to each other. You create an account on the server you pick, set up your profile, and you’re ready to start sharing photos and following others. It’s free and easy!

Note: If you get an app to use on mobile, remember what server your account is on. It’s like remembering if your email is @gmail.com or @hotmail.com when you’re logging into your account.

How do I schedule posts to Pixelfed?

Did you know you can schedule Pixelfed posts for free with Fedica?

Fedica’s free Pixelfed scheduling tool, with crossposting abilities to Bluesky, Mastodon, Threads, etc.

Scheduling posts on Pixelfed requires tools like Fedica. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Create or Log in to Your Fedica Account

  • If you’re new to Fedica, sign up for an account. It’s free!
  • Fill in your details and verify your email to activate your account.
  • If you already have an account, log in with your credentials.

Step 2: Connect Your Pixelfed Account

  • Once logged in, navigate to the “Scheduler” section in your Fedica dashboard.
  • Click the “+ Network” button to add a social media account.
  • From the list of networks, select Pixelfed.
  • Follow the prompts to authorize Fedica to access your Pixelfed account (no we do not sell your data, we charge subscription fees for analytics and other tools!).
  • Log in to your Pixelfed account or register.

Step 3: Plan Your Content Calendar

  • Go to the Calendar View in the Fedica Scheduler.
  • Outline your content ideas for the week or month.
  • Drag and drop placeholders onto specific days to organize your content flow visually.

Step 4: Create Your Pixelfed Post

  • Write your caption, add relevant hashtags, and upload your images or videos.
  • Use the “Customize Post” option to tailor your post specifically for Pixelfed’s format, or other platforms. For instance:
    • Ensure your captions align with Pixelfed’s character limits.
    • Optimize images for Pixelfed’s visual display.

Step 5: Set the Publishing Schedule

  • Choose the date and time you want your post to go live on Pixelfed.
  • Create a custom schedule by selecting specific hours and days for a Pipeline (a color-coded queue) to post content. For example: Thursdays at 3 PM, weekends only, or daily at 8 AM.

Step 6: Enable Automatic Posting

  • Add an RSS feed to your calendar, or bulk upload a bunch of posts to a Pipeline with a custom schedule.
  • Fedica will queue your content and publish it on Pixelfed at the scheduled time automatically.

Step 7: Monitor and Engage

  • After your post is live, use Fedica’s Pixelfed analytics to monitor its performance.
  • Engage with your audience directly on Pixelfed to build relationships and grow your community.

Pro Tips:

Cross-Platform Customization
If you’re posting to multiple platforms, tweak each post to suit the audience and format of each.

Batch Your Posts
Plan multiple posts at once to save time.

Leverage Analytics
Use Fedica’s Pixelfed analytics to track what content performs well and refine your strategy.

Simple Frequently Asked Questions about Pixelfed:

What is Pixelfed used for?

Pixelfed is used for sharing photos and connecting with others. It’s a platform where people can post pictures, follow accounts they like, and interact with posts through likes and comments.

Pixelfed is starting a TikTok alternative for short videos: Loops.video

It’s a lot like Instagram but without ads or intrusive tracking, making it more privacy-focused and community-driven. You can post videos on Pixelfed too.

How do I discover content?

You can discover content by browsing hashtags, following accounts, or checking out the explore section on your server.

Since all servers are connected, you’re not limited to seeing content just from your server—you can follow and interact with users from any server on Pixelfed.

If I follow a hashtag on my server, like pixelfed.social, will I see posts from other servers with that hashtag?

Yes, following a hashtag on pixelfed.social can show posts from other servers using that hashtag in your main feed. Since pixelfed.social is a major instance, it generally interacts with most servers in the Fediverse, unless it’s too new, or restricted by content, in few cases.

Is Pixelfed free?

Yes, Pixelfed is completely free to use. There are no subscriptions or hidden fees, and because it’s community-run, there’s no need for ads or selling your data.

Is Pixelfed like Instagram?

Yes, Pixelfed is very similar to Instagram. You can post photos, like and comment on posts, follow accounts, and browse content. The big difference is Pixelfed has no ads, no tracking, and is run by communities instead of a single big company.

Is there a good alternative to Instagram?

Pixelfed is a great alternative to Instagram if you’re looking for something ad-free, privacy-friendly, and community-driven. It offers similar features while avoiding some of the downsides of big social media platforms, like an algorithm you can’t control that gets changed on you, affecting your content strategy.

What is the adult alternative to Instagram?

If you mean a more mature, privacy-conscious space for sharing photos, Pixelfed is a solid option. It’s not specifically “adult-only,” but its community-driven nature and lack of ads make it a good choice for those looking for a more thoughtful alternative to Instagram. With Fedica, you can schedule Pixelfed and Bluesky adult content with warning labels applied.

Is Pixelfed better than Instagram?

That depends on what you value. If you prefer no ads, better privacy, and a community-focused approach, Pixelfed is a better choice. Pixelfed is also a great investment if you’re spending the time to build a strong community that you don’t want taken away from you. However, Instagram has more users and features as its been maturing over years.

How does the Fediverse work?

The Fediverse is a network of independent servers that all connect to each other. Each server is run by its own community, but they can still interact, so you can follow and communicate with people on different servers. It’s like a big, decentralized version of social media, or the web3 of social.