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
UpScrolled Review
Independent social network with chronological feeds, surged after TikTok US deal
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- iOS
- Android
- Web
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
UpScrolled suits people who want a network mixing photos, video and text posts with chronological feeds and a no-shadowban pledge. The trade-offs are a very young product, press reports of moderation problems, and an unsettled business model.
Best for: People who want to try an independent alternative to TikTok or Instagram
Skip it if: People who need a large, settled community with mature moderation
Pros
- Free, and the policy says personal information is not sold or traded
- Chronological feeds and a no-shadowban pledge (per the official site)
- End-to-end encrypted messaging (labelled beta by the App Store) and account deletion in Settings
Cons
- Press reports of harmful content on the platform (antisemitic posts, material promoting terrorist groups), with UpScrolled acknowledging moderation lagged growth (per Wikipedia)
- Google Play shows only 4.1/5, and the app was briefly suspended and reinstated there on 14–15 February 2026
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
Pros
- A 4.7/5 App Store rating and 21 interface languages
Cons
- Business model unsettled: Google Play marks the app as containing ads, the FAQ says ads are "likely", and the App Store sells verified-account items at $15 and $150
Best for
- Users who care about chronological feeds and moderation transparency
Skip it if
- Anyone who needs an interface outside the 10 supported languages (English, French, German, Japanese, Korean…)
Problems it solves
Experience & key features
UpScrolled is a social network founded by Issam Hijazi, a Palestinian-Australian developer born in Jordan. The About page says it grew out of censorship and shadow banning of Palestinian voices on other platforms. Per Wikipedia, it launched in June 2025 operated by the Australian company Recursive Methods Pty Ltd and backed by the Tech for Palestine incubator; the current policy names UpScrolled B.V. in Amsterdam as the entity.
Per TechCrunch, users share photos, videos and text posts, discover content and send direct messages, blending ideas from Instagram and X. The official site stresses chronological feeds, transparent moderation and no shadowbanning. Per the FAQ, private messages are end-to-end encrypted, while public posts are protected in transit and at rest. The App Store notes for version 1.11.0 add content search, search history, background uploads and Russian language support.
Pricing and business model
The app is free, though Google Play labels it as containing ads and the FAQ says advertising is likely on the roadmap and the company plans creator monetization such as payouts and branded content. The US App Store lists verified-account items at $15 and $150, but the terms only describe request-based verification with no fee, so how it is priced is unclear. The pages consulted give no funding amount.
Growth and moderation
Per TechCrunch (26 January 2026), daily downloads rose 2,850% after the TikTok US deal, to about 140,000 total downloads at that point. Wikipedia records about 2.5 million users in early February 2026 and 5 million by April. At the same time, outlets such as The Times and JTA reported antisemitic content and material promoting terrorist groups; UpScrolled says it expanded its moderation staff and upgraded its technology infrastructure. Per Wikipedia, Google Play suspended and reinstated the app within a day on 14–15 February 2026.
More analysis
Who it fits
UpScrolled fits if you want to try a fast-growing independent network and accept the risks of a new product. For short video with a big community, TikTok is still far larger; for open short posts, Bluesky is another option. The App Store rates it 16+ and the policy sets a minimum age of 16.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026
Free
PersonalFree
Free to download and sign up. Google Play marks the app as containing ads, and the FAQ says advertising is "likely" on the product roadmap.
Verified account
PersonalContact sales
The US App Store lists two in-app items named Verified account, at $15.00 and $150.00, without stating a billing period. The terms of service describe verification as request-based and mention no fee.
- Free trial
- No free trial
Cancellation & refunds
The terms of service state no refund policy. In-app purchases on iOS are billed through Apple.
Privacy
Per the privacy policy (updated 30 May 2026), UpScrolled B.V. (Amsterdam, Netherlands) collects display name, handle, email, month and year of birth, IP-based approximate location, device data and the content you post; precise location only if you add a location tag. The policy says it does not sell or trade personal information and does not engage in targeted advertising as defined by US state laws, but uses third-party analytics via cookies and SDKs. Data is stored on servers in Ireland, encrypted in transit and, where appropriate, at rest. You request account deletion in Settings. The minimum age is 16. The FAQ says private messages are end-to-end encrypted by default, while the App Store notes for version 1.11.0 call the feature a beta. The App Store description says data is not fed into AI training, whereas the policy only prohibits unauthorized scraping for training and does not state this itself.
UpScrolled alternatives
6.8/10Bluesky
A short-post social network built on the open AT Protocol
6.7/10TikTok
Short-video platform with a personalised feed, LIVE and TikTok Shop
Frequently asked questions
Is UpScrolled free?
Yes, downloading and using it are free. The App Store sells verified-account items ($15 and $150), and Google Play marks the app as containing ads.
Does UpScrolled support Vietnamese?
The App Store lists 21 languages, not including Vietnamese.
Who founded UpScrolled?
Issam Hijazi, per the official About page; the entity named in the policy is UpScrolled B.V. in Amsterdam.
What is the minimum age for UpScrolled?
16 (or higher where national law requires), per the terms and privacy policy.
Review evidence & sources9
Scores
- Ease of use
- 7.0
- Features
- 6.5
- Value for money
- 7.0
- Performance
- 5.5
- Support
- 5.5
- Privacy & security
- 6.5
Why this score
A familiar model (photos, video, text posts, messaging) and a 4.7/5 App Store rating from about 3,800 ratings. The sample is small and Google Play shows only 4.1/5.
Why this score
TechCrunch describes it as combining features of Instagram and X, and Google Play also lists stories, short and long video and built-in video editing. Version 1.11.0 adds content search, background uploads and beta end-to-end encrypted messaging. Creator monetization tools are still only planned.
Why this score
Free to use, but Google Play marks the app as containing ads and the FAQ says ads are likely. The App Store also sells verified-account items at $15 and $150 with no stated period, while the terms mention no fee.
Why this score
Google Play shows 4.1/5 from about 28K ratings versus 4.7/5 on the App Store. The January 2026 growth spike came with moderation problems and a brief Google Play suspension (per Wikipedia). No independent performance data was found.
Why this score
The site links an FAQ, a support portal, community guidelines and an appeals process for removals. No chat or phone channel was seen, and press describes a small team.
Why this score
An EU entity, servers in Ireland, a no-sale pledge, minimum age 16, account deletion and end-to-end encryption (beta). Deductions: Google Play marks the app as containing ads, it uses third-party analytics SDKs, and the policy itself does not repeat the store listing's no-AI-training pledge.
What users say
- App Store (United States)4.7/5 · 3,765
- Google Play4.1/5 · 28,402
Sources
- Vendor-providedOfficial websiteNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedOfficial About pageNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedOfficial FAQNov 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
- pressTechCrunch (2026-01-26)Nov 10, 2026
- Community-reportedWikipedia: UpScrolledNov 10, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- UpScrolled B.V.
- Headquarters
- Netherlands
- Launched
- 2025
- Category
- Social
Capabilities
- Mobile app
- End-to-end encryption
Platforms
- iOS
- Android
- Web
Interface languages
- English
- French
- German
- Indonesian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Chinese
- Spanish
Support
- Help center
Change history
- Feature.Version 1.11.0 adds content search, background uploads, Russian and a beta of end-to-end encrypted messaging.
- Update.Terms of service and privacy policy last updated.
- Update.Google Play suspends then reinstates the app within a day (14–15 February 2026, per Wikipedia).
Full change history (6)
- Update.Reaches about 2.5 million users (per Wikipedia).
- Update.TechCrunch reports downloads up 2,850% following the TikTok US deal.
- Launch.First release on the US App Store (per Apple's lookup data); Wikipedia places the launch in June 2025.
About the author
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