Loops by Pixelfed vs Ctrl+Shift+3
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Loops by Pixelfed
Create and discover short videos on a decentralized network. Enjoy authentic content without ads, tracking, or algorithmic manipulation. Take control of your social media experience.
- Create short videos
- Discover videos
- Federated network
- No ads
- No tracking
- Authentic content
Read full descriptionHide full description
Create and discover short videos in a federated network that puts you in control. No ads, no tracking, no manipulative algorithms — just authentic content from real people.
Ctrl+Shift+3
Read full descriptionHide full description
Ctrl+Shift+3 was created because social media got out of hand. A clear sign is the fact that countries are passing laws preventing certain age groups from using social media. This tells you it's as risky as smoking or drinking alcohol. We offer a calmer, more sane space to share thoughts and links. No likes, follows, or other vanity counts. Features: - A shared chronological stream of public posts. Newest first. No algorithmic "For You" by default. - An optional wave button. Turn it on to see posts with a lot of comments first, with newer posts favored so old ones do not stay stuck on top (plus light randomization). Turn it off to return to newest-first. - Subscribe to people from their profile (privately... no follower counts). Your Subs feed shows their main-feed posts in chronological order. - A public page for each account: bio, posts, optional wall posts from others, and RSS. You control whether visitors can write on your profile. - Flat comments under a post... readable conversation without nested threads competing for attention. - Connect related posts when the community agrees the link makes sense. Ideas can point to each other over time. - Private groups called Clicks (aka cliques) for friends, family, or a shared topic. Membership is required to enter. Signed-in people can browse the directory and request to join; moderators decide. - Mention someone to get their attention. Pings collect mentions, comment notices, Click invites, and join-request notices in one place. You can optionally receive a daily email digest of unread pings (review your settings). - Block haters. A one-way way to stop seeing someone’s posts and comments, and to limit how they interact with you. - Polls: On the Feed, in a Click, or on a profile wall, use the poll toggle next to the compose label to post a timed poll instead of a plain thought. - Art: Art opens a 40×40 text "paint" grid. - Swipe right to open the chatroom. If it's not available you'll see a schedule showing the next date/time that it will open. - Old posts with 3 or less comments might get bubbled back up for a second chance at some love. - Transparent moderation with logged actions and reasons. Platform and Click moderators can keep spaces usable without silent black-box systems. - Optional offline reading mode. - Your data: Delete your account and your writing is replaced with placeholders.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Ctrl+Shift+3 at every 2 days against Loops by Pixelfed's every 3 months. 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.
Loops by Pixelfed ships an update every 3 months, Ctrl+Shift+3 every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Loops by Pixelfed | Ctrl+Shift+3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (29 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 87.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 29 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 65 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Daniel Supernault | William Wilcosky |
In-app purchases
Loops by Pixelfed
No in-app purchases
Ctrl+Shift+3
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Loops by Pixelfed free?
Is Ctrl+Shift+3 free?
Do Loops by Pixelfed or Ctrl+Shift+3 have ads?
Which is updated more often, Loops by Pixelfed or Ctrl+Shift+3?
Other comparisons















