StarPterano vs Pheme for Mastodon
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
StarPterano
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StarPterano is a client application for Mastodon, a distributed social networking service. It features a large amount of information that can be viewed, a light operation feel, and a wealth of unique functions. 【Features of StarPterano】 The timeline is displayed in full screen, and can be displayed in multi-columns on the iPad. The background color of selected posts on the timeline changes, as does the color of related posts. Pinch in/out to show/uncheck mini-view for quick viewing of a large number of posts. Pinch out to zoom in and out to see even hard-to-see custom emojis. Pinch out to zoom in and out to see custom emojis that are hard to see. Swipe left or right to switch between multiple accounts easily. A variety of settings are available, including text and icon size, freely selectable accent colors, and relative/absolute time display. Post input can be done while displaying the timeline. Streaming support Automatic CW expansion Long text is automatically displayed with its height limited so that it does not get in the way. Supports custom emoji animations. 【Supported features】 Use of multiple accounts, reply/boost/favorite/bookmark operations for posts on different accounts Timeline streaming Display of custom emoji, emoji picker Post posting functions (images, public range, CW, NSFW) Boosting, favoriting, and bookmarking See who has favorite/boosted a post Conversation display with in_reply_to Animated display of icons and custom emoji Video playback, video posting (compressed) Post GIF animations List function Search function for tags, users, and posts Profile editing Integrated local and home view Reserved postings Polls (post polls, view polls, participate in polls) Editing of posts NowPlaying post, which allows you to post the name of the song that is currently playing. Custom emoji picker ・Display reply destinations and hashtag and emoji suggestions while typing from "@", "#", and ":". Follow hashtags Explore trending posts, hashtags, news, and recommended users Translation function Emoji reactions (Only servers that support fedibird API) 【Notes】 Push notification function is not supported. Filtering function is not supported.
Pheme for Mastodon
This app provides a streamlined and responsive interface for interacting with the Fediverse. It offers features like live-updating timelines, one-tap interactions, media viewing, and robust search capabilities. Advanced customization and full feature access are available through a premium subscription.
- Live-updating timelines
- One-tap post interactions
- Inline media playback
- Search posts and users
- Customizable lists
- Real-time notifications
- Multi-account support
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Pheme is a third-party Mastodon client for the Fediverse, built entirely with native UIKit for a smooth, responsive, and distraction-free experience. TIMELINE Live-updating home timeline with infinite scrolling. Smart reading position preservation — picks up exactly where you left off after a refresh. Unread count badge so you always know what's new. Switch between Local and Federated timelines to explore the broader Fediverse. POSTS & INTERACTIONS Like, Boost, Reply, and Bookmark in one tap. Quote Post support for rich commentary. Full Poll display and participation. Content Warnings — elegantly collapsed and expandable. Link preview cards for rich external content. System translation for posts in any language. MEDIA Image viewer with pinch-to-zoom, swipe to dismiss, and save to Photos. Inline video playback with fullscreen support. Smooth GIF and animated media rendering. Full custom emoji support for every server. SEARCH & DISCOVERY Search posts, users, and hashtags. Explore page with featured instances to discover new communities across the Fediverse. LISTS Create, edit, and delete custom lists. Manage list members with ease. Dedicated list timeline view. NOTIFICATIONS Real-time push notifications: follows, mentions, likes, boosts. Follow request management for private accounts. PROFILE View and edit avatar, display name, bio, and custom fields. Browse your own and others' posts, media, and replies. Follow / Unfollow with mutual follow indicator. MULTI-ACCOUNT Log into multiple accounts across different Mastodon instances. Seamlessly switch between accounts with fully isolated data. PHEME PRO — PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION Subscribe to Pheme Pro to unlock the full Pheme experience: Custom Accent Colors: Full custom color picker. Custom Fonts: Set individual fonts for titles, body text, and monospace elements. Appearance Mode: Light, Dark, or System. Avatar Style: Circular or square. Compose & Post: Write and publish your thoughts to Mastodon. Full Interaction Access: Boost, quote, reply, like, bookmark, follow/unfollow. List Management: Create and manage custom lists. Plans: Weekly / Monthly / Yearly (best value). Subscriptions auto-renew 24 hours before expiry. Cancel anytime in App Store subscription settings. PRIVACY FIRST Pheme communicates directly with your chosen Mastodon instance — no third-party relay servers. Your credentials are stored securely in the device Keychain and never shared with third parties. Join the Fediverse. Start your decentralized social journey with Pheme. -- Subscription Details -- • Weekly, monthly and annual subscriptions are available • Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase • Your subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renew is disabled at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period • Automatic renewals will be charged at the same price you were originally charged for the subscription • Subscriptions can be managed or cancelled by going to Account Settings on the App Store after purchase Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://pheme.pureding.org/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: StarPterano at none against Pheme for Mastodon's 3. StarPterano also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Pheme for Mastodon sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. StarPterano asks for nothing beyond the download.
StarPterano ships an update every 4 days, Pheme for Mastodon every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | StarPterano | Pheme for Mastodon |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days — better | Every 5 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | SEGO Takayoshi | 恒敏 吴 |
In-app purchases
StarPterano
No in-app purchases
Pheme for Mastodon
- Weekly Plan$0.997 Days
- Monthly Plan$1.991 Month
- Yearly Plan14 Days trial$5.991 Year
Questions
Is StarPterano free?
Is Pheme for Mastodon free?
Do StarPterano or Pheme for Mastodon have ads?
Which is updated more often, StarPterano or Pheme for Mastodon?
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