Pixelfed vs Closely
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pixelfed
Share your photography with a community that values creativity, authenticity, and privacy. This app offers an ethical alternative to mainstream social media, giving users control over their content and data.
- Ad-free photo sharing
- Privacy-focused
- User content control
- Authentic community
- Ethical social media alternative
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Share your photography with a community that values creativity, authenticity, and privacy. Pixelfed is the ethical alternative to traditional social media platforms, putting you in control of your content and data.
Closely
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You don't need another app where you scroll past strangers. You need one where every post is from someone you actually care about. Closely is a private photo-sharing app for your real friends. No followers, no algorithms, no "suggested for you" from someone you met once at a party. Just the people you'd trust with your phone unlocked. HOW TO GET IN There's no sign-up page. A friend scans you in with a QR code. That's it. If nobody's invited you yet, you probably need better friends. (Kidding. Mostly.) WHAT YOU CAN DO - Post photos your friends will actually see (not 3% of them) - Share multi-image posts for when one pic doesn't tell the whole story - Like and comment knowing it's real people, not bots - Keep your feed chronological — no algorithm playing favorites WHAT YOU WON'T FIND - Ads - Influencers - A discover page - That guy from high school you don't remember adding Closely is for the group chat that deserves a feed. Your circle, your rules.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Closely at every 10 days against Pixelfed's every 4 weeks. Pixelfed's advantage is iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Pixelfed ships an update every 4 weeks, Closely every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pixelfed | Closely |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (552 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 47.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 552 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | Every 10 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 129 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Daniel Supernault | Oluwatimi Owoturo |
Bugs and requests
Pixelfed
Reported bugs
4 issues- Inability to post photos or send DMs
- Inconsistent heart/like behavior
- Crashes and freezes on app launch
- Incompatibility with certain servers
Requested features
5 requests- Dark mode option
- Video support
- Improved collections/albums management
- Seamless onboarding and server selection
- Better notifications and interaction tracking
Closely
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Pixelfed
No in-app purchases
Closely
No in-app purchases
