Collection
Free Social Apps
Free social networks and social apps for sharing, following communities and staying in touch.
This collection lists social media platforms and social apps that are free to join and use, many of which also offer optional paid features. It includes mainstream networks, video and photo platforms, discussion communities, professional networking and newer decentralised services. Each listing describes the platform neutrally, notes what is free and what is optional, and links only to the official website and official app store pages. We do not rank platforms by popularity or claim user numbers.
Twitch
Social App
Live streaming platform for gaming, music, creative content and chat; free to watch.
Social App
Free messaging and calling app from Meta with end-to-end encryption.
Messenger
Social App
Meta's free messaging app for chats, voice and video calls with Facebook and Messenger contacts.
Telegram
Social App
Cloud-based messaging app with large groups, channels and multi-device sync; free with optional Premium.
Signal
Social App
Free, open-source private messenger with end-to-end encryption, run by a non-profit foundation.
Discord
Social App
Voice, video and text chat app for communities and friends; free with optional Nitro subscription.
Social App
Meta's social network for connecting with friends and family, groups, pages and Marketplace.
Social App
Meta's photo and video sharing app with Reels, Stories and direct messaging.
TikTok
Social App
Short-form video platform for watching, creating and sharing videos, with optional in-app purchases.
X
Social App
Social network for short posts, news and live conversation; free to use with optional paid Premium.
Snapchat
Social App
Camera and messaging app for sharing photos and videos with friends; free with optional Snapchat+.
Social App
Professional social network for careers, job searching and business networking; free with paid Premium.
Social App
Network of interest-based communities where people post, discuss and vote on content.
Social App
Visual discovery platform for finding and saving ideas for recipes, home, fashion and more.
Threads
Social App
Meta's text-based conversation app for sharing posts and joining public discussions.
Bluesky
Social App
Decentralised social network for short posts with custom feeds and user-controlled moderation.
Mastodon
Social App
Free, open-source, decentralised social network made up of independently run servers.
YouTube
Social App
Google's video platform for watching, uploading and live streaming; free with optional YouTube Premium.
Frequently asked questions
Are these free social apps really free?
Yes, every listing here can be used without paying. WhatsApp, Messenger, Signal, TikTok, Pinterest, Threads, Bluesky and Mastodon are completely free or open source, while Twitch, Telegram, Discord, Facebook, Instagram, X, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Reddit and YouTube are free to use or play, with optional paid upgrades or in-app purchases.
Which of these free social apps work on Android?
All of them: every listing in this collection has an official version for Android.
Which of these free social apps work on the web?
Twitch, WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram, Discord, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Reddit, Pinterest, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon and YouTube have an official version for the web.
Which of these free social apps are open source?
Signal and Mastodon are free and open source.
How were these free social apps chosen?
Selection criteria: each item is free to use or free-to-play, available from an official website or authorised store, and its official source has been verified by an administrator. Items are added automatically when they meet these conditions and match the collection topic; the order is editorial and is not an objective ranking.
Where can I download these free social apps safely?
Only from each developer's official website or an official app store. Every listing in this collection links to official sources only, never to mirrors or modified files.