Source-backed analysis9
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
9 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 10, 2026
How we review
Bluesky Review
A short-post social network built on the open AT Protocol
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- Web
- iOS
- Android
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
Bluesky suits people who want a short-post network with custom feeds, user-controlled moderation and an account usable across other apps on the same protocol. The trade-offs are that nearly everything is public, store ratings are fairly low, and the service was disrupted for several days in April 2026.
Best for: Users coming from X or Threads who want custom feeds and control over filters
Skip it if: People who mainly need private messaging or closed-group sharing
Pros
- Free, ad-free per the Google Play description, and no paid plan found
- Community-built feeds, moderation lists and content filters
- One account works across other apps built on the AT Protocol, with public APIs for developers
Cons
- Low store ratings: 3.9/5 on the US App Store and 2.8/5 on Google Play
- Posts, profiles, likes, follows and blocks are public, and posts may persist on other services after account deletion
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
Pros
- The policy says personal data is not sold or shared for targeted advertising, and the App Store label lists no tracking data
Cons
- April 2026 saw several service-interruption notices tied to a DDoS attack
Best for
- Developers who want to build on an open protocol with public APIs
Problems it solves
Experience & key features
Bluesky is a short-post social network from Bluesky PBLLC, a public benefit company. The project began in 2019 when Twitter funded a small team to build an open social media standard, and became an independent company in 2021. Per Wikipedia, an invite-only iOS beta launched on 17 February 2023 and registration opened to everyone on 6 February 2024.
The official page lists the core features: custom feeds (from friend groups to an algorithmic feed), moderation lists and content filters. The App Store adds Starter Packs for following many people quickly and describes the app as part of an open protocol, so one account works across compatible apps. Developers get public APIs and the AT Protocol's public firehose to build feeds or their own apps. In April 2025 Bluesky added verification badges and trusted verifiers such as news organizations; October 2026 brought Profile Links and a beta moderation inbox.
Pricing and business model
The app is free, the terms of service mention no paid features, and the Google Play description says there are no ads. The blog post on its $100 million Series B led by Bain Capital Crypto (April 2025) describes no revenue model, so how Bluesky will earn money is not stated. The company says users grew from 13 million at its Series A (October 2024) to over 43 million (March 2026).
Privacy and reliability
Most activity on Bluesky is public, and the policy warns users to take care before posting. The company says it does not sell data for targeted advertising. On reliability, the blog records four service-interruption updates between 16 and 20 April 2026 tied to a DDoS attack. Ratings currently stand at 3.9/5 on the US App Store and 2.8/5 on Google Play.
More analysis
Who it fits
Bluesky fits if you want a public short-post network with custom feeds and filters, or care about an open protocol. X and Threads have larger audiences and more public figures; Mastodon is also decentralized, in a different way. For closed groups or private messaging, apps such as Telegram or Signal are a better match.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026
Free
PersonalFree
The App Store lists the app as Free with no in-app purchases shown, and the terms of service mention no paid features.
- Free trial
- No free trial
Cancellation & refunds
Not applicable: the pages consulted show no paid Bluesky plan.
Privacy
Bluesky is a decentralized microblogging service where most activity is public, including posts, profiles, likes, follows and blocks. Per its privacy policy (updated 14 August 2025) it collects email, phone number, birth date, username, posts, direct messages and device data such as IP address. The policy says Bluesky does not sell or share personal data for targeted advertising, but may use third-party tracking technologies and does not honor Do Not Track signals. The terms let you delete your account in settings, though posts may persist on other AT Protocol services Bluesky does not control. The App Store label lists email, phone number, photos/videos and user content as linked to you, and lists no data used for tracking. The minimum age is 13.
Bluesky alternatives
Frequently asked questions
Is Bluesky free?
Yes. The App Store lists it as Free and the terms of service mention no paid features.
Does Bluesky support Vietnamese?
Yes. The App Store lists Vietnamese among 39 interface languages, alongside English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Spanish, German and many others.
Are Bluesky posts public?
Yes. The policy says posts, profiles, likes, follows and blocks are public.
What is the minimum age for Bluesky?
13, or higher where local law requires. The App Store rates it 16+.
Review evidence & sources9
Scores
- Ease of use
- 7.0
- Features
- 7.0
- Value for money
- 8.5
- Performance
- 6.0
- Support
- 5.5
- Privacy & security
- 6.5
Why this score
A familiar layout for anyone who has used a short-post network, with Starter Packs for quick follows and a contact-based Find Friends feature (Dec 2025). Ratings are only 3.9/5 on the App Store and 2.8/5 on Google Play, though.
Why this score
Custom feeds, filters and moderation lists, messaging, verification badges, profile links and a moderation inbox (beta). The open ecosystem is a strength, while privacy-oriented features are limited.
Why this score
Free with no paid tier seen, ad-free per the Google Play description, and the policy rules out selling data for targeted ads. The pages consulted do not describe a revenue model, so this could change.
Why this score
In April 2026 Bluesky posted four service-interruption updates tied to a DDoS attack. Google Play shows 2.8/5 from about 59K ratings and the App Store 3.9/5.
Why this score
A support email, support pages, a user FAQ and a regularly updated blog, including an annual transparency report. The pages consulted list no chat or phone, so for a network of 43 million-plus users, help mostly means email.
Why this score
No sale of data for targeted ads, no tracking data on the App Store label, and account deletion is in settings. Against that, most activity is public by design, posts can persist on other services, and the policy allows third-party tracking technologies.
What users say
- App Store (United States)3.9/5 · 14,000
- Google Play2.8/5 · 58,965
Sources
- Vendor-providedOfficial About pageNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedOfficial blog indexNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedOfficial blog: Series BNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedOfficial blog: verificationNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedPrivacy PolicyNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedTerms of ServiceNov 10, 2026
- storeApp Store listing (US)Nov 10, 2026
- storeGoogle Play listingNov 10, 2026
- Community-reportedWikipedia: BlueskyNov 10, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- Bluesky PBLLC
- Headquarters
- United States
- Launched
- 2023
- Category
- Social
Capabilities
- Mobile app
- Public API
- Integrations
Platforms
- Web
- iOS
- Android
Interface languages
- English
- Vietnamese
- Japanese
- Chinese
- Spanish
- French
- Korean
- German
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Thai
- Indonesian
Integrations
- AT Protocol apps
Support
- Help center
Change history
- Company.Toni Schneider is named permanent CEO after serving as interim since March.
- Update.Bluesky posts service-interruption updates tied to a DDoS attack (16–20 April 2026).
- Company.Bluesky's blog details its $100 million Series B, led by Bain Capital Crypto and raised in April 2025.
Full change history (8)
- Feature.Bluesky introduces verification badges and trusted verifiers.
- Launch.Registration opens to the general public.
- Launch.Bluesky launches as an invite-only iOS beta; an Android version follows in April 2023.
- Company.Jay Graber incorporates the project as the independent company Bluesky Social (October 2021).
- Launch.Jack Dorsey announces Twitter is funding a small team to build an open, decentralized social media standard.
About the author
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