What is Bluesky? Everything to know about the X competitor

Is the writer greener connected the different side? We’re not sure, but the entity is astir surely bluer. It’s been implicit 2 years since Elon Musk purchased Twitter, present X, starring radical to acceptable up store connected alternate platforms. Mastodon, Post, Pebble (two of which person already shuttered operations) and Spill person been presented arsenic potential replacements, but fewer aside from Meta’s Threads person achieved the velocity of maturation Bluesky has reached.

As of February 2025, Bluesky has surpassed 30 cardinal users. Its maturation stems from respective argumentation changes astatine X, including a heavy criticized change to the artifact feature and allowing 3rd enactment companies to train their AI connected users’ posts, which helped the app soar to the top of the U.S. App Store. Bluesky besides saw a large boost pursuing the results of the 2024 U.S. statesmanlike election (which besides contributed to an X exodus by Taylor Swift fans). But portion the fig is promising, the maturation has slowed — and the web has a batch of catching up to bash to vie with Threads’ 275 cardinal monthly progressive users.

Below, we’ve compiled the answers to immoderate of the astir communal questions users person astir Bluesky. And if you’ve made the switch, you tin follow TechCrunch here arsenic good arsenic our squad with our Starter Pack.

What is Bluesky?

Bluesky is simply a decentralized societal app conceptualized by erstwhile Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and developed successful parallel with Twitter. The societal web has a Twitter-like idiosyncratic interface with algorithmic choice, a federated plan and community-specific moderation.

Bluesky is utilizing an open root framework built in-house, the AT Protocol, meaning radical extracurricular of the institution person transparency into however it is built and what is being developed.

Dorsey introduced the Bluesky task backmost successful 2019 portion helium was inactive Twitter CEO. At the time, helium said Twitter would beryllium backing a “small autarkic squad of up to 5 unfastened root architects, engineers, and designers,” charged with gathering a decentralized modular for societal media, with the archetypal extremity that Twitter would follow this modular itself. But that was earlier Elon Musk bought the platform, truthful Bluesky is wholly divorced from X.

As of May 2024, Dorsey is no longer connected Bluesky’s board. Bluesky is present an autarkic nationalist payment corp led by CEO Jay Graber.

How bash you usage Bluesky?

Upon signing up, users tin make a grip which is past represented arsenic @username.bsky.social arsenic good arsenic a show sanction that appears much salient successful bold text. If you’re truthful inclined, you tin crook a domain sanction that you ain into your username — so, for example, I’m known connected Bluesky arsenic @amanda.omg.lol.

The app itself functions much similar X, wherever you tin click a positive fastener to make a station of 256 characters, which tin besides see photos. Posts themselves tin beryllium replied to, retweeted, liked and, from a three-dot menu, reported, shared via the iOS Share Sheet to different apps, oregon copied arsenic text.

You tin hunt for and travel different individuals, past presumption their updates successful your “Home” timeline. Previously, the Bluesky app would diagnostic fashionable posts successful a “What’s Hot” feed. That provender has since been replaced with an algorithmic and personalized “Discover” feed featuring much than conscionable trending content. 

For caller users, Bluesky introduced a “Starter Pack” feature, which creates a curated database of radical and customized feeds to travel successful bid to find absorbing contented close retired of the gate. You tin find TechCrunch’s Starter Pack right here.

User profiles incorporate the aforesaid benignant of features you’d expect: a illustration pic, background, bio, metrics and however galore radical they’re following. Profile feeds are divided into 2 sections, similar X: posts and posts & replies. In January 2025, Bluesky besides added a caller video tab to idiosyncratic profiles.

There is besides a “Discover” tab successful the bottommost halfway of the app’s navigation, which offers much “who to follow” suggestions and a moving provender of precocious posted Bluesky updates. In January 2025, Bluesky besides introduced a vertical video feed to vie with TikTok.

We’ve besides enactment unneurotic a adjuvant usher connected how to usage Bluesky here.

Image Credits: Natalie Christman

Who’s connected Bluesky?

By the opening of July 2023, erstwhile Instagram’s Threads launched, Bluesky topped a cardinal downloads crossed iOS and Android. Notable figures similar Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mark Cuban, Quinta Brunson, Dril, Weird Al Yankovic, Guillermo del Toro, Barbra Streisand, and Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva person migrated to Bluesky.

Bluesky is besides location to quality organizations similar Bloomberg, The Washington Post, and of course, TechCrunch! Since August 2024, Bluesky is besides present allowing heads of state to motion up and articulation the level for the archetypal time.

In 2025, immoderate salient U.S. governmental figures acceptable up accounts connected the platform, similar Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. By May of that year, Bluesky began verifying “notable” users with bluish checkmarks, akin to however the bluish cheque utilized to run connected Twitter.

Does Bluesky enactment conscionable similar X?

In galore ways, yes. When it archetypal started, Bluesky was overmuch much pared down and didn’t adjacent person DMs, but this cardinal diagnostic has since been implemented, adjacent with emoji reactions. But DMs connected Bluesky are presently constricted to one-to-one messages, not radical messages. Bluesky has besides said it is funny successful implementing thing akin to X’s Community Notes feature. Additionally, X does not usage a decentralized protocol similar ActivityPub or AT. Bluesky has besides been testing a Trending Topics feature and processing its ain photograph sharing app called Flashes, which is expected to beryllium released successful beta soon.

In October 2024, Elon Musk announced that X’s artifact diagnostic would enactment differently than it has successful the past. The caller artifact functionality allows users you person blocked to presumption your posts and your profile, but not the quality to interact with your posts. Some users believe this update to beryllium a information concern, starring to an influx successful Bluesky sign-ups arsenic its artifact diagnostic is much traditional.

In different determination that separates Bluesky from X, the societal web said it has “no intention” of utilizing idiosyncratic contented to bid generative AI tools arsenic X implemented a caller presumption of work that allows the level to train AI models connected nationalist posts. But that doesn’t halt third parties from doing so.

While Bluesky was initially kicked disconnected arsenic a task convened by Jack Dorsey successful 2019 erstwhile helium was CEO of Twitter, the societal app has been an autarkic institution since its inception successful 2021.

Is Bluesky free?

Yes, and it is present unfastened to the public.

How does Bluesky marque money?

Bluesky’s extremity is to find different means to prolong its web extracurricular of advertizing with paid services, truthful it tin stay escaped to extremity users. On July 5, 2023, Bluesky announced further effect circular backing and a paid work that provides customized domains for extremity users who privation to person a unsocial domain arsenic their grip connected the service. Bluesky has besides emphasized that it does not privation to “require selling idiosyncratic information for ads” in bid to monetize its platform.

In November 2024, Bluesky announced it raised a $15 cardinal Series A round and is processing a subscription work for premium features. Bluesky, however, noted its subscription exemplary volition not travel successful the footsteps of X’s “pay to win” premium offerings. Users person spotted mockups teasing the subscription feature, dubbed Bluesky+, which could see features similar higher prime video uploads and illustration customizations.

In December 2024, Peter Wang announced a $1 cardinal fund, dubbed Skyseed, that volition connection grants to those gathering connected Bluesky’s unfastened root AT Protocol.

Is Bluesky decentralized?

Yes. Bluesky’s squad is developing the decentralized AT Protocol, which Bluesky was built atop. In its beta phase, users tin lone articulation the bsky.social network, but Bluesky plans to beryllium federated, meaning that endless individually operated communities tin beryllium wrong the unfastened root network. So, if a developer extracurricular of Bluesky built their ain caller societal app utilizing the AT Protocol, Bluesky users could leap implicit to the caller app and larboard implicit their existing followers, grip and data.

“You’ll ever person the state to take (and to exit) alternatively of being held to the whims of backstage companies oregon achromatic container algorithms. And wherever you go, your friends and relationships volition beryllium determination too,” a Bluesky blog station explained.

What is the AT Protocol?

Bluesky’s AT Protocol is simply a decentralized web that developers tin usage to physique societal apps. The societal app Bluesky is built connected the AT Protocol, which was created by the institution Bluesky (yes, the naming conventions present are a spot confusing).

The ATProto community is moving to rebuild overmuch of what utilized to be Web 2.0, an earlier mentation of the societal web that included societal media websites, blogs, wikis, video- and photo-sharing sites, and different collaborative and hosted services. This clip around, the apps are being built connected unfastened technology, not siloed into centralized services that thin to beryllium operated by tech giants.

This unfastened architecture gives users and developers arsenic overmuch powerfulness arsenic the creators of the protocol.

Centralized tech platforms similar Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and Reddit tin besides cultivate these kinds of developer communities by offering developers entree to their APIs. However, that API access tin beryllium revoked astatine the discretion of those companies, leaving its developer assemblage helpless and its users dissatisfied. This happened astatine Reddit successful 2023. It was a full mess.

What third-party apps are built connected the AT Protocol?

Many developers are gathering consumer-facing apps connected Bluesky oregon its underlying AT Protocol. These apps are built connected unfastened technology, arsenic opposed to being siloed wrong large tech’s centralized, opaque ownership.

Some societal apps see Flashes, a photograph viewing client; Spark, a TikTok-like app; and Skylight Social, which is backed by Mark Cuban.

Check retired our much comprehensive list astatine assorted apps built wrong this ecosystem, including cross-posting apps, euphony apps, provender builders, and livestreamers.

Is Bluesky secure?

In October 2023, Bluesky added email verification arsenic portion of a larger effort to amended relationship information and authentication connected the network. The summation is an important measurement guardant successful presumption of making Bluesky much competitory with larger networks similar X, which person much robust information controls. In December 2023, Bluesky allowed users to opt retired of a alteration that would expose their posts to the nationalist web pursuing backlash from users. 

Is Bluesky customizable?

Yes. In May 2023, Bluesky released customized algorithms, which it calls “custom feeds.” Custom feeds let users to subscribe to aggregate antithetic algorithms that showcase antithetic kinds of posts a idiosyncratic whitethorn privation to see. You tin pin customized feeds that volition amusement up astatine the apical of your timeline arsenic antithetic tabs to prime from. The feeds you pin, oregon save, are located nether the “My Feeds” paper successful the app’s sidebar.

In March 2024,​​ the institution announced “AT Protocol Grants,” a caller programme that volition dole retired tiny grants to developers successful bid to foster maturation and customization. One of the recipients, SkyFeed, is simply a customized instrumentality that lets anyone physique their ain feeds utilizing a graphical idiosyncratic interface. 

Is Bluesky connected iOS and Android?

Yes. Bluesky has rolled retired to Android users aft it was initially launched to iOS users. Users tin entree Bluesky connected the web here.

How does Bluesky tackle misinformation?

After an October 2023 update, the app volition present pass users of misleading links by flagging them. If links shared successful users’ posts don’t lucifer their text, the app volition connection a “possibly misleading” informing to the idiosyncratic to alert them that the nexus whitethorn beryllium directing them determination they don’t privation to go.

Image Credits: Bluesky connected GitHubImage Credits:Bluesky connected Github

In December 2024, the Bluesky Safety squad posted that the institution updated its impersonation policy to beryllium “more aggressive,” adding that “impersonation and handle-squatting accounts volition beryllium removed.” The institution said it is also exploring alternatives to its existent domain grip verification process.

Bluesky besides added bluish cheque verification successful May 2025, which makes it easier for users to verify that notable figures are who they accidental they are; dissimilar X, Bluesky does not let users to bargain this designation.

Has Bluesky had immoderate controversies?

Bluesky has been embattled with moderation issues since its archetypal launch. The app has been accused of failing to support its marginalized users and failing to mean racist content. Following a controversy astir the app allowing radical slurs successful relationship handles, frustrated users initiated a “posting strike,” wherever they refused to prosecute with the level until it established guardrails to emblem slurs and different violative presumption successful usernames.

In December 2024, Bluesky besides faced disapproval erstwhile writer and podcast big Jesse Singal joined the platform. Singal has been cataloged by GLAAD’s Accountability Project for his writings connected transgender issues and different matters. Bluesky users person reported Singal’s relationship en masse, starring the institution to prohibition him, reinstate him, and past statement his relationship intolerant by its moderation service.

As Bluesky has gotten much popular, critics person complained that the civilization is disproportionately left-leaning, which could perchance beryllium a effect of Bluesky’s maturation arsenic an alternate to X, which has go increasingly right-wing.

These are wide generalizations that volition alteration from idiosyncratic to idiosyncratic — Mark Cuban, for example, complained that radical would not speech to him successful bully religion astir concern oregon AI — but the architecture of Bluesky allows for users to customize a much personalized experience.

What moderation features does Bluesky have?

In December 2023, Bluesky rolled retired “more precocious automated tooling” designed to emblem contented that violates its Community Guidelines that volition past beryllium reviewed by the app’s moderation team. Bluesky has moderation features akin to ones connected X, including idiosyncratic lists and moderation lists, and a diagnostic that lets users bounds who tin reply to posts. However, immoderate Bluesky users are inactive advocating for the quality to acceptable their accounts to private. 

In March 2024, the institution launched Ozone, a instrumentality that lets users make and tally their ain autarkic moderation services that volition springiness users “unprecedented control” implicit their societal media experience. In October 2024, Bluesky joined Instragram’s Threads app successful an effort to tribunal users who were frustrated by Meta’s moderation issues.

In January 2025, Bluesky published its 2024 moderation report that said it saw a 17x summation successful moderation reports pursuing the accelerated maturation connected the platform. The study besides noted that the largest fig of reports came from users reporting accounts oregon posts for harassment, trolling, oregon intolerance — an contented that’s plagued Bluesky arsenic it’s grown. To conscionable the demands caused by this growth, Bluesky increased its moderation squad to astir 100 moderators and volition proceed to hire.

Bluesky revamped its Community Guidelines successful August 2025, with immoderate of the changes representing an effort by Bluesky to purposefully signifier its assemblage and the behaviour of its users.

What’s the quality betwixt Bluesky and Mastodon?

Though Bluesky’s architecture is akin to Mastodon’s, galore users person recovered Bluesky to beryllium much intuitive, portion Mastodon tin travel disconnected arsenic inaccessible: Choosing which lawsuit to articulation feels similar an intolerable task connected Mastodon, and longtime users are precise antiaircraft astir their established posting norms, which tin marque joining the speech intimidating. To stay competitive, Mastodon precocious simplified its sign-up flow, making mastodon.social the default server for caller users.

However, the motorboat of federation volition marque it enactment much likewise to Mastodon successful that users tin prime and take which servers to articulation and determination their accounts astir astatine will. 

Who owns Bluesky?

Though Jack Dorsey funded Bluesky, helium is not progressive successful day-to-day improvement and nary longer sits connected the company’s board. The CEO of Bluesky is Jay Graber, who antecedently worked arsenic a bundle technologist for the cryptocurrency Zcash, past founded an event-planning tract called Happening.

This communicative was primitively published successful May 2023 and is updated regularly with caller information.