Best European Alternatives to Facebook (2026)
Facebook built its business by learning as much as it can about you, from your interests and relationships to your purchases and habits, and using that to sell targeted ads. Meta's data collection continues through Instagram, WhatsApp and tracking pixels on millions of other websites. European and open social networks are smaller but built on very different principles: you are a user, not a product.
Replace Facebook with a private social network based in Europe. Compare Mastodon, Pleroma, all operated under European privacy law.
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Mastodon (Germany)
A social network like Twitter, but with no ads and no algorithm. Join any community and talk to people across the whole network.
✓ Open source ✓ Free tier -
Pleroma (Federated network)
Lightweight social network that connects to Mastodon and the wider Fediverse, easy to self-host on a modest server.
✓ Open source ✓ Free tier ✓ No account needed
Replacing more than Facebook?Swipe through the apps you use and get a step-by-step switch plan. No account needed.
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