Bluesky vs. Threads: What's the difference? [2025]

Bluesky and Threads are emerging social media platforms vying to be the successor to Twitter following its acquisition by Elon Musk. Both platforms aim to capture Twitter's user base and cultural significance but approach this goal differently. Bluesky is a standalone network fostering an open social web using the Authenticated Transfer Protocol (AT Proto), which allows users to create customizable feeds and use third-party moderation services, though it remains niche. Threads, built on Instagram, offers a more mainstream experience with integrated features like content filters and affiliation with Instagram's user base, but lacks direct messaging and requires an Instagram account for access. Neither platform currently monetizes, although Threads is expected to adopt Meta's advertising model, while Bluesky plans an ad-free premium subscription. Despite their differences, both platforms offer familiar social networking features akin to Twitter, such as character-limited posts, reposting, and hashtags, and invite users to explore their unique offerings.