# Scuttlebutt App vs Mastodon

The clearest difference is ads: Mastodon at none against Scuttlebutt App's shown. Mastodon also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (13K vs 44). Scuttlebutt App's advantage is review sentiment (79% vs 48%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). On price, rating, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Mastodon holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mastodon has 13K ratings behind it against 44, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 79% of Scuttlebutt App's written reviews are positive against 48% of Mastodon's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Scuttlebutt App ships an update every 2 weeks, Mastodon monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Scuttlebutt App | Mastodon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scuttlebutt-app/id1555515071/reviews) | **[4.5 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mastodon/id1571998974/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 44 | **13K** |
| Positive reviews | **78.9% of reviews** | 48.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 60 MB | 110 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.4** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Scuttlebutt, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1609675356) | [Mastodon GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1571998976) |

## What reviewers say

### Scuttlebutt App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scuttlebutt-app/id1555515071)

This app consolidates essential boating tools and community features into a single platform. Access live weather, navigation, and social networking to enhance your time on the water. Connect with other boaters, plan trips, and discover destinations.

**Highlights:** Live weather conditions, Wind and wave data, Navigational information, Social networking for boaters, Dock space booking, Route plotting, Points of Interest database

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 Scuttlebutt App free?

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

### Is Mastodon free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Scuttlebutt App or Mastodon?

Mastodon is rated higher. Scuttlebutt App averages 4.3 out of 5 from 44 ratings, while Mastodon averages 4.5 from 13K ratings.

### Do Scuttlebutt App or Mastodon have ads?

Scuttlebutt App shows ads; Mastodon does not.

### Which is updated more often, Scuttlebutt App or Mastodon?

Scuttlebutt App ships an update every 2 weeks, and Mastodon monthly. Most recently, Scuttlebutt App was updated on October 9, 2026 and Mastodon on October 16, 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.*