# Parler vs Mastodon

The clearest difference is rating: Mastodon at 4.5 against Parler's 3.9. Mastodon also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). Parler's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs monthly) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.6). On price, review sentiment, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Parler sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Mastodon asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mastodon holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mastodon has 13K ratings behind it against 175, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of Parler's written reviews are positive against 48% of Mastodon's.

Parler ships an update every 6 days, Mastodon monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Parler | Mastodon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (175 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parler/id1402727988/reviews) | **[4.5 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mastodon/id1571998974/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 175 | **13K** |
| Positive reviews | 44.0% of reviews | **48.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 91 MB | 110 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Sovren Technologies, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1877928309) | [Mastodon GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1571998976) |

## What reviewers say

### Parler

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parler/id1402727988)

A social media platform focused on free expression and open dialogue. It allows users to share thoughts, engage with diverse perspectives, and connect with communities without censorship. Customize your profile and control your privacy.

**Highlights:** Free expression without censorship, Engage with diverse perspectives, Authentic content feed, Customizable user profiles, Posts & Reposts, Groups & Hashtags, Privacy and content control

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Parler Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Founding member | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Unbiased platform for free speech
- 🔓 No censorship or content moderation
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 💡 Potential to be a great alternative to Twitter
- 🤝 Welcoming community for conservative views

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy performance
- 🔒 Requires phone number for verification
- 🤔 Perceived right-wing bias in content
- ⚠️ Concerns about hate speech and extremism
- 🔋 High battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Issues with login and account creation
- Inability to upload media and videos
- Inconsistent performance across devices
- Notifications not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Improved user interface and experience
- Better content moderation and reporting tools
- Ability to delete account and remove personal data
- Sync contacts and follow existing connections
- More diverse content and user base


### Mastodon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mastodon/id1571998974)

Connect with others on a decentralized social network. Share posts, images, and videos in chronological order without algorithms or ads. Discover new content and participate in conversations across the fediverse.

**Highlights:** Chronological feed, No algorithms or ads, Discover new users and topics, Post with images, videos, and polls, Create custom lists, Filter content, Cross-platform communication

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Friendly and welcoming community
- 🚀 Decentralized and free from corporate control
- 🔒 No data collection or ads
- 🤖 Good alternative to Twitter
- 💡 Ability to self-host servers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🤔 Confusing onboarding and server selection
- 📱 Limited functionality compared to web version
- 🔍 Difficulty finding and following people
- 🕰️ Slow or delayed notifications

**Reported bugs**

- Can't log in or create account
- Keyboard freezes during editing
- Inconsistent behavior when switching accounts
- Notifications not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Add local and federated timelines
- Improve search and discovery features
- Implement edit and delete post functionality
- Add support for animated GIFs
- Provide better accessibility options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Parler free?

Parler is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Mastodon free?

Mastodon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Parler or Mastodon?

Mastodon is rated higher. Parler averages 3.9 out of 5 from 175 ratings, while Mastodon averages 4.5 from 13K ratings.

### Do Parler or Mastodon have ads?

Parler shows ads; Mastodon does not.

### Which is updated more often, Parler or Mastodon?

Parler ships an update every 6 days, and Mastodon monthly. Most recently, Parler was updated on October 20, 2026 and Mastodon on October 23, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*