Softwr

Dating · head to head

HER vs Mastodon

HER logo

HER

Dating

The dating app for LGBTQ+ women and queer people

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mastodon logo

Mastodon

Dating

Social networking that's not for sale

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: HER facebook or Instagram account required for signup, which excludes closeted users or those with safety concerns; Mastodon no pricing model required; users host their own instances at infrastructure cost
  • They diverge on capability: HER covers Profile Matching, Mastodon covers Decentralization.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HER and Mastodon actually diverge.

Attributes where HER and Mastodon differ
AttributeHERMastodon
Pricing modelUnknownfree
PlatformsiOS, AndroidIos, Android, Web
Founded20132016

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Dating).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in HER

  • Profile Matching
  • Communities
  • Events
  • Feed
  • Filter by Sexuality
  • Video Chat
  • Instagram
  • Spotify

Only in Mastodon

  • Decentralization
  • Custom Servers
  • No Ads
  • Chronological Feed
  • Content Warnings
  • Federation
  • ActivityPub
  • Fediverse

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

HER

No use cases recorded yet. See the HER review.

Mastodon

  • Decentralized social networkingnot HER
  • Community-owned discussion platformsnot HER
  • Privacy-focused communication infrastructurenot HER

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

HER

  • Facebook or Instagram account required for signup, which excludes closeted users or those with safety concerns
  • No web version available; mobile-only platform on iOS and Android
  • Fake profiles and romance scams present on platform despite selfie verification
  • Limited user base outside major cities; geographic areas without Pride events may have single-digit user pools
  • Key features like Discover page and unlimited likes are behind paywall with 14-hour swiping limit unless paid

Mastodon

  • No pricing model required; users host their own instances at infrastructure cost
  • Decentralized funding model relies on voluntary donations with no guaranteed revenue
  • Self-hosting requires technical expertise and operational overhead for smaller communities

Pricing, plan by plan

HER

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Liking and matching
    • Messaging
    • Communities
  • Premium$14.99/month
    • Ad-free experience
    • See who is online in real-time
    • Additional search filters

Mastodon

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Toots
    • Federation
    • Custom Instances

Which should you pick?

Choose HER if

  • You need profile matching.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want communities.
HER review

Choose Mastodon if

  • You need decentralization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want custom servers.
Mastodon review

Questions people ask

Is HER or Mastodon better?
Neither clearly leads. HER starts at Free and Mastodon at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HER or Mastodon?
HER starts at Free and Mastodon at Free.
Does HER or Mastodon run on more platforms?
HER runs on iOS, Android. Mastodon runs on Ios, Android, Web.
Can I use HER for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What can HER do that Mastodon cannot?
HER covers Profile Matching, Communities, Events, Feed. Mastodon covers Decentralization, Custom Servers, No Ads, Chronological Feed. Both handle Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

HER: Are all HER features free to use?

Yes. All core features are completely free including liking, matching, messaging, joining communities, and viewing events. HER Premium ($14.99/month or $7.50/month annually) removes ads and adds filters.

Source
Mastodon: Does Mastodon charge any fees to join or use the platform?

No, Mastodon is free and open-source software developed by a non-profit organization. Users can join existing servers or host their own without software licensing fees.

Source
HER: What communities does HER offer?

HER features 30+ communities for queer women, lesbian, bi, nonbinary, trans, and gender nonconforming users. Users can add pronouns, pride pins, and gender identities to their profiles.

Source
Mastodon: How is Mastodon development funded?

Mastodon is developed by a non-profit and accepts optional voluntary donations through Patreon and direct Stripe donations. These are presented as support contributions rather than required fees.

Source
HER: What platforms does HER support?

HER is available on iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play).

Source
Mastodon: What are typical costs for self-hosting a Mastodon instance?

Mastodon website does not publish hosting costs. Self-hosting requires paying for cloud infrastructure (VPS, storage, bandwidth) through providers like AWS, DigitalOcean, or Linode, with costs varying by instance size and user count.

Source
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