Define an outcome
Replace “be present” with an observable action: talk with a group, publish a tutorial, show a portfolio or monitor a professional topic.
Compare how they work
Which network for your next project?
Compare formats, uses and key considerations. The best choice depends on what you want to do.
A decision in four questions
How should you choose a social network?
Compare fewer promises and more real constraints: your goal, audience, effort and degree of control.
Find your audience
The right platform is where the people you want to reach are active and open to that type of exchange—not necessarily the one with the most accounts.
Estimate the real effort
Consider creation time, expected frequency, moderation and content lifespan. A sustainable rhythm is more useful than an intense start.
Check your exit options
Before investing, review privacy, data export, account deletion, moderation rules and dependence on recommendations.
Quick answer
There is no single best social network for everyone.
For a visual portfolio, start with Instagram or Pinterest; for lasting video, YouTube; for live interaction, Twitch; for professional networking, LinkedIn; for an ongoing community, Discord or Reddit. Test one or two platforms for two weeks, then measure the quality of conversations and the time you actually spent.
Choice assistant
Find three options suited to your use
Three criteria are enough to narrow the list. The result is a transparent editorial suggestion, never a quality score.
Suggestions use the formats and purposes described in the directory. Then check the profile, age rules and official terms.
- Formats
- Photos, carousels, Stories, Reels
- Explore it for
- Show a creative project, share a portfolio and connect around your interests.
- Keep in mind
- Review your account audience, tags and message requests. A Story can be captured.
Evaluate a trial
If your goal is to keep documentation easy to consult over time, also publish it on your own website. Test the network by tracking questions about your project and useful visits, rather than reactions alone.
- Formats
- Text, photos, videos, groups, events
- Explore it for
- Run an association, find a local group or organise an event.
- Keep in mind
- Distinguish public and private groups, then check the audience for each post.
Evaluate a trial
A group does not replace an association’s decision record. Keep dates, registrations and minutes in a space you control; test whether members can find an announcement without reading the whole conversation.
YouTube
- Formats
- Videos, Shorts, live streams, playlists
- Explore it for
- Publish tutorials, explore a subject or build a video library.
- Keep in mind
- Review comments and the rights to the images and music you use.
Evaluate a trial
For training, provide a transcript and chapters alongside the video. If access must be limited to identified people, do not rely on an unlisted link: choose an appropriate access setting and test it with another account.
TikTok
- Formats
- Videos, photos, live streams
- Explore it for
- Experiment with video, explain an idea or discover creators.
- Keep in mind
- Review comments, downloads and settings for other people reusing your videos.
Evaluate a trial
A short video can introduce a topic without covering every nuance. Provide a source or fuller explanation accessible from your profile; check whether viewers understand the message before increasing your posting frequency.
- Formats
- Profiles, posts, articles, job listings
- Explore it for
- Build professional connections, showcase experience and follow companies.
- Keep in mind
- Verify a recruiter’s identity and avoid sharing sensitive documents in an initial exchange.
Evaluate a trial
To demonstrate a skill, explain the problem, your contribution and a documented result. Avoid publishing internal employer or client information; have an anonymised example reviewed before associating it with your professional identity.
X
- Formats
- Text, images, videos, audio spaces
- Explore it for
- Monitor topics and follow updates from organisations or specialists.
- Keep in mind
- A badge or a large share count is no substitute for checking a source.
Evaluate a trial
Fast public conversations can support monitoring, but quotes need context. For an important announcement, keep a stable reference page and review who retains access to previously protected posts.
Threads
- Formats
- Text, links, photos, videos
- Explore it for
- Discuss a topic and continue conversations around your work.
- Keep in mind
- Review visibility and reply settings before joining a public thread.
Evaluate a trial
Before joining a discussion, distinguish a reply to one person from a post that may circulate more widely. If you enable federated sharing, consider that additional circulation before posting a photograph or personal information.
Snapchat
- Formats
- Snaps, Stories, chats, videos
- Explore it for
- Communicate spontaneously with friends and make visual content.
- Keep in mind
- Disappearing content can still be copied. Check your location-sharing settings.
Evaluate a trial
A temporary exchange does not guarantee that no copy exists. When arranging an outing, share the meeting point without continuously publishing the group’s location; review message recipients and location-sharing recipients separately.
- Formats
- Pins, images, videos, boards
- Explore it for
- Plan a trip, an interior project or creative research.
- Keep in mind
- Visit the original website to check an offer and the rights to an image.
Evaluate a trial
A reference board helps plan a project, but saving an image does not grant reuse rights. Find the creator and licence on the original website; retain source links for references you intend to use in your own work.
- Formats
- Discussions, links, images, comments
- Explore it for
- Ask a focused question, find first-hand experiences and contribute to a community.
- Keep in mind
- A personal account or an upvote does not establish verified expertise.
Evaluate a trial
Read subreddit rules before asking a question: what one community accepts may be rejected by another. Compare answers and sources; a high score does not turn a personal account into factual evidence.
Discord
- Formats
- Text channels, voice, video, servers
- Explore it for
- Run an ongoing group with topic-specific conversation spaces.
- Keep in mind
- Check invite links, role permissions and unsolicited private messages.
Evaluate a trial
A server with many channels becomes difficult to navigate without clear onboarding. Start with announcements, questions and simple permissions; ask a new member to find the rules and contact the moderators.
Twitch
- Formats
- Live streams, chat, clips
- Explore it for
- Host a live session and interact with a community.
- Keep in mind
- Prepare chat moderation and check what appears on screen before broadcasting.
Evaluate a trial
Live streaming requires attendance at a set time and moderation during the broadcast. Before starting a regular series, test a short session, a chat rule and a fallback for audio or connection failures.
- Formats
- Messages, calls, groups, channels
- Explore it for
- Coordinate a group and communicate with contacts.
- Keep in mind
- Encryption does not prevent a recipient from copying a message. Check backup settings separately.
Evaluate a trial
For a group, review what participants can see of your profile and other members. Also decide how to preserve essential information: conversation encryption and history recovery are separate questions.
Telegram
- Formats
- Messages, groups, channels, bots
- Explore it for
- Follow a topic-based channel or organise information sharing for a group.
- Keep in mind
- Verify a channel’s authenticity and avoid giving sensitive data to an unknown bot.
Evaluate a trial
Choose the space by purpose: public announcement, cloud conversation or individual secret chat. A cloud group can support coordination, but must not be described as end-to-end encrypted; do not apply secret-chat guarantees to every space.
Bluesky
- Formats
- Posts, replies, custom feeds
- Explore it for
- Explore communities and choose different ways to follow your interests.
- Keep in mind
- Treat posts as public and review accounts suggested in shared lists.
Evaluate a trial
Feeds and lists shape monitoring: compare a specialised feed with posts from a few sources you follow directly. A relevant feed helps discover a topic, but selected posts still need independent verification.
Mastodon
- Formats
- Posts, replies, images, feeds
- Explore it for
- Join an open network and choose the community that hosts your account.
- Keep in mind
- Read the server’s rules, terms and migration options before signing up.
Evaluate a trial
Choose a server by reading its rules, contact details and continuity commitments. Account migration and post archives are separate: the documentation states that posts and media are not imported into the new account.
- Formats
- Messages, calls, Moments
- Explore it for
- Communicate with contacts using the WeChat ecosystem.
- Keep in mind
- Check local terms and permissions before enabling additional services.
Evaluate a trial
Distinguish personal conversations from official accounts and mini-programs. For a practical task, check who provides the service and which data it requests; do not assume every part of the app has the same audience or conditions.
- Formats
- Text, images, videos, topics
- Explore it for
- Follow content and conversations in China’s digital space.
- Keep in mind
- Language, local rules and access requirements deserve particular attention.
Evaluate a trial
When following a topic, compare the original post, comments and reposts. Preserve the date and language context; a quick translation or trending topic is insufficient to attribute a statement to someone.
Tumblr
- Formats
- Blogs, text, images, reblogs, tags
- Explore it for
- Keep a creative journal and take part in cultural communities.
- Keep in mind
- Preserve credits when reblogging and use available content filters.
Evaluate a trial
Reblogging circulates a creation beyond its original blog. Before posting, decide which elements may be redistributed; retain credits in the content and do not expect account deletion to remove all reblogged copies.
Element (Matrix)
Element is a messaging and collaboration app based on Matrix. Learn about rooms, provider choice and recovery precautions.
- Formats
- Messages, private or public rooms, audio and video calls
- Visibility
- Private or public rooms depending on settings
- Use
- Organise a community or team that wants to understand and choose its messaging host.
- Caution
- Check room encryption, devices and key recovery. A public room and a private encrypted room do not share the same protections.
Evaluate a trial
Choose your account provider and room rules before inviting a team. Review audience, history visible to new members and recovery options; changing client apps is not the same operation as moving your account to another provider.
Signal
- Formats
- Messages, groups, audio and video calls
- Explore it for
- Communicate privately with contacts and small groups.
- Keep in mind
- Encryption does not protect an already compromised device or copies made by a recipient.
Evaluate a trial
Prepare for a phone change before losing the old device. Optional secure backups and device-to-device transfers serve different situations; check your recovery option and keep its key outside the conversation.
LINE
- Formats
- Messages, audio and video calls, groups, OpenChat
- Worth exploring for
- Stay in touch, coordinate a group and join topic-based conversations.
- Watch out for
- Check OpenChat audiences, signed-in devices and backup settings before sharing private information.
Evaluate a trial
A messenger is useful when your contacts can use it comfortably. Test a message and call together; assess additional services separately before providing payment, location or profile information.
KakaoTalk
- Formats
- Messages, calls, groups, profiles, Open Chat
- Worth exploring for
- Talk with contacts and take part in groups or communities, especially in South Korea’s digital ecosystem.
- Watch out for
- Distinguish conversations with contacts from Open Chat spaces and check profile visibility in each context.
Evaluate a trial
Do not confuse a conversation between contacts with an Open Chat space. Choose the profile and information visible in each context; for a team, check whether chat folders actually improve access to important messages.
BeReal
- Formats
- Front-and-back photos, RealMojis, friends feed
- Worth exploring for
- Share an ordinary moment with close contacts and reduce the visual preparation associated with posting.
- Watch out for
- A spontaneous post may reveal a location, screen or person without preparation. Check the whole background before posting.
Evaluate a trial
Both cameras may reveal people, documents or places you did not intend to share. Review both images and location before sending; receiving a notification does not require immediate posting.
Nextdoor
- Formats
- Local posts, recommendations, alerts, groups, events
- Worth exploring for
- Follow neighbourhood life, ask for a recommendation or coordinate a local initiative.
- Watch out for
- Very local information can identify a home or routine. Limit personal details and verify alerts before sharing them.
Evaluate a trial
For a neighbourhood request, describe the area and need without unnecessarily revealing a precise address. Independently verify recommendations and a provider’s identity before booking or paying.
Medium
- Formats
- Articles, series, publications, responses
- Worth exploring for
- Publish long-form analysis, develop expertise and discover writers beyond your immediate network.
- Watch out for
- Check the writer, sources and publication date. Polished presentation does not guarantee accuracy.
Evaluate a trial
A useful article explains an idea, its sources and the limits of its reasoning. Keep a copy and test reader access before promising free content; distinguish article quality from distribution.
Quora
- Formats
- Questions, answers, comments, topic spaces
- Worth exploring for
- Find first-hand experience, explain a field and follow specialised questions.
- Watch out for
- A persuasive answer can still be wrong. Check claimed expertise, sources and date before acting on it.
Evaluate a trial
Ask a precise question and separate facts from personal experiences in answers. For an important decision, trace original sources and dates; an answerer’s profile alone does not validate a claim.
Strava
- Formats
- Activity, route, photo, club, comment
- Explore it for
- Track a sport and connect with nearby partners or clubs.
- Consideration
- A GPS trace can reveal your home or routine. Review hidden zones and visibility before posting.
Evaluate a trial
A map may reveal routines even when its start is hidden. Review activity audience, map and photos separately; for a group outing, seek permission before tagging participants or showing their route.
Goodreads
- Formats
- Shelf, rating, review, list, group
- Explore it for
- Keep a reading record and find recommendations from other readers.
- Consideration
- A review can reveal plot details. Mark spoilers and treat authors and fellow readers with respect.
Evaluate a trial
Define shelves to distinguish reading plans, current reading and finished books. When choosing a book, compare reviews and context; an average rating describes neither intended audience nor the quality of an edition or translation.
SoundCloud
- Formats
- Audio track, playlist, comment, profile
- Explore it for
- Publish an audio creation or explore independent artists.
- Consideration
- Upload only audio you own or are authorised to share. Public tracks may be reshared elsewhere.
Evaluate a trial
A timed comment helps give feedback on a musical passage. Provide a timestamp and useful observation; obtain the necessary rights before adding a track to your video instead of inferring permission from online availability.
DeviantArt
- Formats
- Artwork, gallery, collection, comment, group
- Explore it for
- Show an artistic practice and receive feedback from a creative community.
- Consideration
- Credit reused elements and check licences, especially for fan art and collaborations.
Evaluate a trial
Before submitting work to a group, check its theme, permissions and rules. Retain working files and state your contribution; if a creation uses others’ resources, document their licences and credits too.
Dailymotion
- Formats
- Video, channel, playlist, comment
- Explore it for
- Follow news or entertainment videos and distribute a video catalogue.
- Consideration
- Check rights to footage, music and people filmed before publishing.
Evaluate a trial
For limited video sharing, check what the documentation means by private: possession of the link may be enough for access. Test the protection available in your plan and do not upload sensitive material based solely on the label.
VSCO
- Formats
- Photo, profile, gallery, collaborative space
- Explore it for
- Develop a photographic practice and discover other creators’ work.
- Consideration
- Studio drafts are private, but profile posts are public. Check that transition before sharing.
Evaluate a trial
Decide whether you need editing tools, a community or a presentation website. Check features included in your plan and retain original files; evaluate the coherence of your series before measuring audience reactions.
GitHub
- Formats
- Repository, issue, pull request, discussion, profile
- Explore it for
- Contribute to software, document a problem and talk with its community.
- Consideration
- Never publish passwords, tokens or private data in a public repository or issue.
Evaluate a trial
A public repository exposes its content: remove secrets and check rights before publishing. For collaboration, add setup instructions, an appropriate licence and a reproducible example; GitHub complements Git but is not required to use Git locally.
ResearchGate
- Formats
- Profile, publication, question, following
- Explore it for
- Make a research career visible and exchange with disciplinary peers.
- Consideration
- Before uploading a full text, check the publisher’s permitted version and coauthor rights.
Evaluate a trial
A research profile or shared file does not establish peer review. Find the publisher’s version, DOI and any corrections; check distribution rights before uploading full text.
Bandcamp
- Formats
- Album, track, collection, message, profile
- Explore it for
- Explore music scenes and support an artist or label.
- Consideration
- Check rights to recordings, artwork and covers before uploading a release.
Evaluate a trial
To support an artist, examine album details, credits and purchase conditions. If publishing music, prepare masters and collaborator permissions; buying a track does not automatically grant video synchronisation rights.
Stack Overflow
- Formats
- Question, answer, vote, edit, profile
- Explore it for
- Find a verifiable solution to a code problem and share a useful answer.
- Consideration
- Remove keys, personal data and confidential code from examples you publish.
Evaluate a trial
Before asking, search existing answers and prepare a minimal example with expected output and the actual error. Remove confidential data; the format suits verifiable programming problems better than open discussions about the best product.
Flickr
- Formats
- Photos, albums, galleries, groups, comments
- Explore for
- Present a photographic series, document a project and exchange with people who practise photography.
- Consideration
- Before publishing, review rights, identifiable people and location metadata that may be embedded in the file.
Evaluate a trial
To document a photographic series, organise an album with titles, relevant dates and credits. Check each photo’s rights before downloading it for reuse; a visible album is not necessarily openly licensed.
Vimeo
- Formats
- Video, streaming, review pages, embeds
- Explore for
- Present a film, collect time-coded feedback or embed video on a website with precise distribution settings.
- Consideration
- Available features, quotas and controls depend on the plan. Review access, permitted domains and storage of original files.
Evaluate a trial
For client video delivery, test the embedded player on mobile and access with an outside account. Check the plan needed for expected features before building a workflow around a password or collaboration option.
Meetup
- Formats
- Groups, events, registration, discussion
- Explore for
- Join a local activity, organise a recurring gathering or develop a community around a practice.
- Consideration
- A gathering involves a place, time and sometimes personal information. Review the organiser, rules, accessibility and cancellation terms.
Evaluate a trial
Online registration does not guarantee event attendance. Provide venue accessibility, participation conditions and a contact; plan a change notice and measure actual attendance afterwards.
Substack
- Formats
- Articles, newsletters, podcasts, video, Notes, chat
- Explore for
- Develop a regular publication, maintain a direct relationship with subscribers and offer free or paid content.
- Consideration
- An audience still depends on the service’s rules and tools. Keep copies of your work, review exports and explain frequency and subscription terms clearly.
Evaluate a trial
A regular newsletter requires an editorial promise you can sustain. Define frequency, free or paid access and email content; retain your texts and plan publication continuity before changing services.
Viber
- Formats
- Messages, calls, groups, communities, channels
- Explore for
- Communicate with friends, coordinate a group or follow a topic-based community.
- Consideration
- Private conversations and public spaces do not have the same protections. Review audiences, invitations, backups and synced devices.
Evaluate a trial
Before moving a group, distinguish chats, communities, channels and bots. Encryption guarantees differ across these spaces and call types; test the selected use instead of assigning one guarantee to the entire app.
Letterboxd
- Formats
- Diary, ratings, reviews, lists, watchlist
- Explore for
- Keep a record of films, discover work and exchange recommendations within a film community.
- Consideration
- A rating summarises a personal experience, not a universal truth. Mark spoilers, credit sources and avoid harassment over disagreements.
Evaluate a trial
To track your film year, log screenings in the diary instead of only marking films as watched. Set your own rules for rewatches and ratings; community ratings remain opinions rather than an objective quality measure.
Pixelfed
- Formats
- Photos, videos, profiles, feeds
- Explore for
- Show a photography portfolio and follow creators across different servers.
- Consideration
- Choose a server whose rules and moderation suit you. A public post may travel beyond your own server.
Evaluate a trial
For a photo series, review your server’s rules and continuity and each post’s audience. Keep originals outside the network; federation enables interactions between servers but does not replace a personal backup.
Lemmy
- Formats
- Links, text, images, comments, votes
- Explore for
- Discover specialist communities and join open discussions.
- Consideration
- Moderation rules vary between communities and servers. Read them before posting and avoid sharing sensitive information.
Evaluate a trial
Identify the hosting server and full community name before subscribing. Communities with the same name may have different rules; read their introduction and verify sources in technical or news discussions.
PeerTube
- Formats
- Videos, channels, comments, subscriptions
- Explore for
- Publish lasting videos for a community without relying on a single host.
- Consideration
- Each platform sets its rules, technical limits and moderation. Check rights to images and music before publishing.
Evaluate a trial
Before choosing a host, examine its rules, contact and how you will retain original videos. For a tutorial, test captions and playback on an ordinary connection; peer-to-peer delivery alone does not guarantee content availability.
Behance
- Formats
- Projects, portfolios, images, videos, profiles
- Worth exploring for
- Document your creative process and show work to peers or potential clients.
- Watch out for
- Publish only work you have the rights and permission to share. Remove confidential material from client projects.
Evaluate a trial
Present a project’s context, your role and creative process rather than only a final gallery. Before publishing collaborative work, check client permission and collaborator credits; do not disclose confidential project documents.
Patreon
- Formats
- Posts, memberships, communities, digital products
- Worth exploring for
- Maintain a direct relationship with people who want to support creative work.
- Watch out for
- Explain benefits, publishing frequency, price and terms clearly before asking for payment. Features vary by country and account.
Evaluate a trial
Membership involves benefits you must deliver regularly. Distinguish it from a one-off purchase and estimate production, support and administration time; test a simple offer before adding multiple tiers.
All 48 networks at a glance
A qualitative comparison, without artificial scores or promised results.
| Network | Category | Formats | One possible use | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instagram | Photo & inspiration | Photos, carousels, Stories, Reels | Show a creative project, share a portfolio and connect around your interests. | Review your account audience, tags and message requests. A Story can be captured. |
| Facebook | Conversations | Text, photos, videos, groups, events | Run an association, find a local group or organise an event. | Distinguish public and private groups, then check the audience for each post. |
| YouTube | Video & live | Videos, Shorts, live streams, playlists | Publish tutorials, explore a subject or build a video library. | Review comments and the rights to the images and music you use. |
| TikTok | Video & live | Videos, photos, live streams | Experiment with video, explain an idea or discover creators. | Review comments, downloads and settings for other people reusing your videos. |
| LinkedIn | Professional | Profiles, posts, articles, job listings | Build professional connections, showcase experience and follow companies. | Verify a recruiter’s identity and avoid sharing sensitive documents in an initial exchange. |
| X | Conversations | Text, images, videos, audio spaces | Monitor topics and follow updates from organisations or specialists. | A badge or a large share count is no substitute for checking a source. |
| Threads | Conversations | Text, links, photos, videos | Discuss a topic and continue conversations around your work. | Review visibility and reply settings before joining a public thread. |
| Snapchat | Photo & inspiration | Snaps, Stories, chats, videos | Communicate spontaneously with friends and make visual content. | Disappearing content can still be copied. Check your location-sharing settings. |
| Pinterest | Photo & inspiration | Pins, images, videos, boards | Plan a trip, an interior project or creative research. | Visit the original website to check an offer and the rights to an image. |
| Reddit | Communities | Discussions, links, images, comments | Ask a focused question, find first-hand experiences and contribute to a community. | A personal account or an upvote does not establish verified expertise. |
| Discord | Communities | Text channels, voice, video, servers | Run an ongoing group with topic-specific conversation spaces. | Check invite links, role permissions and unsolicited private messages. |
| Twitch | Video & live | Live streams, chat, clips | Host a live session and interact with a community. | Prepare chat moderation and check what appears on screen before broadcasting. |
| WhatsApp | Messaging | Messages, calls, groups, channels | Coordinate a group and communicate with contacts. | Encryption does not prevent a recipient from copying a message. Check backup settings separately. |
| Telegram | Messaging | Messages, groups, channels, bots | Follow a topic-based channel or organise information sharing for a group. | Verify a channel’s authenticity and avoid giving sensitive data to an unknown bot. |
| Bluesky | Open networks | Posts, replies, custom feeds | Explore communities and choose different ways to follow your interests. | Treat posts as public and review accounts suggested in shared lists. |
| Mastodon | Open networks | Posts, replies, images, feeds | Join an open network and choose the community that hosts your account. | Read the server’s rules, terms and migration options before signing up. |
| WeChat | Messaging | Messages, calls, Moments | Communicate with contacts using the WeChat ecosystem. | Check local terms and permissions before enabling additional services. |
| Weibo | Conversations | Text, images, videos, topics | Follow content and conversations in China’s digital space. | Language, local rules and access requirements deserve particular attention. |
| Tumblr | Communities | Blogs, text, images, reblogs, tags | Keep a creative journal and take part in cultural communities. | Preserve credits when reblogging and use available content filters. |
| Signal | Messaging | Messages, groups, audio and video calls | Communicate privately with contacts and small groups. | Encryption does not protect an already compromised device or copies made by a recipient. |
| LINE | Messaging | Messages, audio and video calls, groups, OpenChat | Stay in touch, coordinate a group and join topic-based conversations. | Check OpenChat audiences, signed-in devices and backup settings before sharing private information. |
| KakaoTalk | Messaging | Messages, calls, groups, profiles, Open Chat | Talk with contacts and take part in groups or communities, especially in South Korea’s digital ecosystem. | Distinguish conversations with contacts from Open Chat spaces and check profile visibility in each context. |
| BeReal | Photo & inspiration | Front-and-back photos, RealMojis, friends feed | Share an ordinary moment with close contacts and reduce the visual preparation associated with posting. | A spontaneous post may reveal a location, screen or person without preparation. Check the whole background before posting. |
| Nextdoor | Communities | Local posts, recommendations, alerts, groups, events | Follow neighbourhood life, ask for a recommendation or coordinate a local initiative. | Very local information can identify a home or routine. Limit personal details and verify alerts before sharing them. |
| Medium | Communities | Articles, series, publications, responses | Publish long-form analysis, develop expertise and discover writers beyond your immediate network. | Check the writer, sources and publication date. Polished presentation does not guarantee accuracy. |
| Quora | Communities | Questions, answers, comments, topic spaces | Find first-hand experience, explain a field and follow specialised questions. | A persuasive answer can still be wrong. Check claimed expertise, sources and date before acting on it. |
| Flickr | Photo & inspiration | Photos, albums, galleries, groups, comments | Present a photographic series, document a project and exchange with people who practise photography. | Before publishing, review rights, identifiable people and location metadata that may be embedded in the file. |
| Vimeo | Video & live | Video, streaming, review pages, embeds | Present a film, collect time-coded feedback or embed video on a website with precise distribution settings. | Available features, quotas and controls depend on the plan. Review access, permitted domains and storage of original files. |
| Meetup | Communities | Groups, events, registration, discussion | Join a local activity, organise a recurring gathering or develop a community around a practice. | A gathering involves a place, time and sometimes personal information. Review the organiser, rules, accessibility and cancellation terms. |
| Substack | Communities | Articles, newsletters, podcasts, video, Notes, chat | Develop a regular publication, maintain a direct relationship with subscribers and offer free or paid content. | An audience still depends on the service’s rules and tools. Keep copies of your work, review exports and explain frequency and subscription terms clearly. |
| Viber | Messaging | Messages, calls, groups, communities, channels | Communicate with friends, coordinate a group or follow a topic-based community. | Private conversations and public spaces do not have the same protections. Review audiences, invitations, backups and synced devices. |
| Letterboxd | Communities | Diary, ratings, reviews, lists, watchlist | Keep a record of films, discover work and exchange recommendations within a film community. | A rating summarises a personal experience, not a universal truth. Mark spoilers, credit sources and avoid harassment over disagreements. |
| Pixelfed | Photo & inspiration | Photos, videos, profiles, feeds | Show a photography portfolio and follow creators across different servers. | Choose a server whose rules and moderation suit you. A public post may travel beyond your own server. |
| Lemmy | Open networks | Links, text, images, comments, votes | Discover specialist communities and join open discussions. | Moderation rules vary between communities and servers. Read them before posting and avoid sharing sensitive information. |
| PeerTube | Open networks | Videos, channels, comments, subscriptions | Publish lasting videos for a community without relying on a single host. | Each platform sets its rules, technical limits and moderation. Check rights to images and music before publishing. |
| Behance | Professional | Projects, portfolios, images, videos, profiles | Document your creative process and show work to peers or potential clients. | Publish only work you have the rights and permission to share. Remove confidential material from client projects. |
| Patreon | Professional | Posts, memberships, communities, digital products | Maintain a direct relationship with people who want to support creative work. | Explain benefits, publishing frequency, price and terms clearly before asking for payment. Features vary by country and account. |
| Strava | Communities | Activity, route, photo, club, comment | Track a sport and connect with nearby partners or clubs. | A GPS trace can reveal your home or routine. Review hidden zones and visibility before posting. |
| Goodreads | Communities | Shelf, rating, review, list, group | Keep a reading record and find recommendations from other readers. | A review can reveal plot details. Mark spoilers and treat authors and fellow readers with respect. |
| SoundCloud | Communities | Audio track, playlist, comment, profile | Publish an audio creation or explore independent artists. | Upload only audio you own or are authorised to share. Public tracks may be reshared elsewhere. |
| DeviantArt | Photo & inspiration | Artwork, gallery, collection, comment, group | Show an artistic practice and receive feedback from a creative community. | Credit reused elements and check licences, especially for fan art and collaborations. |
| Dailymotion | Video & live | Video, channel, playlist, comment | Follow news or entertainment videos and distribute a video catalogue. | Check rights to footage, music and people filmed before publishing. |
| VSCO | Photo & inspiration | Photo, profile, gallery, collaborative space | Develop a photographic practice and discover other creators’ work. | Studio drafts are private, but profile posts are public. Check that transition before sharing. |
| GitHub | Professional | Repository, issue, pull request, discussion, profile | Contribute to software, document a problem and talk with its community. | Never publish passwords, tokens or private data in a public repository or issue. |
| ResearchGate | Professional | Profile, publication, question, following | Make a research career visible and exchange with disciplinary peers. | Before uploading a full text, check the publisher’s permitted version and coauthor rights. |
| Bandcamp | Communities | Album, track, collection, message, profile | Explore music scenes and support an artist or label. | Check rights to recordings, artwork and covers before uploading a release. |
| Stack Overflow | Communities | Question, answer, vote, edit, profile | Find a verifiable solution to a code problem and share a useful answer. | Remove keys, personal data and confidential code from examples you publish. |
Features and terms vary by country and account. Check the profile and official website before choosing.
Clear answers
Frequently asked comparison questions
What is the best social network?
There is no universal best network. The choice depends on your goal, intended audience, formats you can produce, available time and the platform’s rules.
Which social network should a business use?
LinkedIn is often a starting point for professional relationships and B2B. Instagram or TikTok may suit highly visual work, YouTube lasting demonstrations and Facebook local communities. Start where your customers are genuinely active.
Which network is best for publishing video?
YouTube suits searchable video and lasting libraries, TikTok short formats discovered through recommendations, and Twitch scheduled live interaction. The best option is the format you can sustain.
What is the difference between messaging and social networking?
Messaging primarily organises conversations between contacts or groups, while social networking puts more emphasis on publishing and public discovery. Channels, communities and groups make the boundary less clear.
Do you need to use several social networks?
Not necessarily. One primary network and perhaps one supporting channel are often enough. Reuse only content that fits each format, and avoid opening more accounts than you can respond through.