Question 1

What is Pixelfed?

Accepted Answer

Pixelfed is a decentralized photo sharing platform similar to Instagram but without tracking or advertising. It is open-source and federated, meaning you can choose which server to join. Pixelfed respects user privacy and does not monetize through data collection.

Question 2

Is Pixelfed private?

Accepted Answer

Pixelfed is more private than Instagram. It does not track users for advertising and does not collect data for profit. Your photos are public by default unless you set them to private. Pixelfed does not use your data for targeted ads.

Question 3

What data does Pixelfed collect?

Accepted Answer

Pixelfed collects minimal data. Your server stores your photos and profile information. Pixelfed does not collect behavioral data or track you across the internet. Different servers may have different data practices.

Question 4

How do I join Pixelfed?

Accepted Answer

You can choose from many Pixelfed servers and create an account. Popular servers include pixelfed.social and others. You can move between servers while keeping your followers. Pixelfed is free and open-source.

Question 5

How does Pixelfed compare to Instagram?

Accepted Answer

Pixelfed is decentralized and does not track users for advertising. Instagram is centralized and collects extensive data for targeted ads. Pixelfed is open-source while Instagram is proprietary. Pixelfed has a smaller community but better privacy.

Question 6

Is Pixelfed free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Pixelfed is free and open-source. Most servers are free to join. Some servers may offer optional paid features or donations. Pixelfed is not monetized through advertising or data collection.

Category	Risk Level	Description
Data Collection	LOW	Minimal collection, no centralized tracking
Server Trust	MEDIUM	Privacy depends on instance choice
Photo Privacy	MEDIUM	Public photos federate across network
Account Security	LOW	Strong security features available
Data Breaches	MEDIUM	Security varies by server
Metadata	LOW	Limited metadata collection

Pixelfed

Detailed Score Breakdown

Data Collection Practices

Security Measures

User Control & Rights

Transparency & Accountability

Data Usage & Retention

Risk Assessment

Privacy Considerations

Decentralized

Open Source

No Ads

Instance Selection

Federation

Variable Security

Privacy setup checklist

Choose Trusted Instance

Configure Privacy Settings

Review Photo Metadata

Enable 2FA

Understand Federation

Frequently Asked Questions