# Mastodon vs Boston While Black

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Mastodon at none against Boston While Black's 2. Mastodon also leads on ratings volume (13K vs 11). Boston While Black's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Boston While Black sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Mastodon asks for nothing beyond the download.

Boston While Black holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mastodon has 13K ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Mastodon ships an update monthly, Boston While Black every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mastodon | Boston While Black |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mastodon/id1571998974/reviews) | **[4.7 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/boston-while-black/id6748763553/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **13K** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | 48.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 110 MB | 126 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Mastodon GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1571998976) | [BOSTON WHILE BLACK INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1827307724) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Boston While Black

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/boston-while-black/id6748763553)

A members-only digital hub for Black professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives in Boston. Connect with others, discover curated events, and access exclusive perks to build community and belonging.

**Highlights:** Private digital community, Curated in-person and virtual events, Exclusive perks and discounts, Member-led clubs, Events calendar, Direct member messaging, Original content for city navigation

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $19.99 | per month |
| Annual Plan | $199.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mastodon free?

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

### Is Boston While Black free?

Boston While Black is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Mastodon or Boston While Black?

Boston While Black is rated higher. Mastodon averages 4.5 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while Boston While Black averages 4.7 from 11 ratings.

### Do Mastodon or Boston While Black have ads?

Neither Mastodon nor Boston While Black shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mastodon or Boston While Black?

Mastodon ships an update monthly, and Boston While Black every 2 months. Most recently, Mastodon was updated on October 13, 2026 and Boston While Black on October 9, 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.*