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How to manage Bluesky, Mastodon and Threads from one free app
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How to manage Bluesky, Mastodon and Threads from one free app

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Buena Vista Images/Getty Images

In today’s fragmented social media landscape, staying active across multiple platforms can feel like a full-time job. Many people have started looking for alternatives with recent changes at X (formerly Twitter), including increased toxicity, relaxed moderation, and decisions that compromise the blocking feature.

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Mastodon, Blue sky, Topicsand other networks have grown in popularity as users seek more supportive, user-controlled spaces. But the change has not been smooth. Each platform has its own app, its own style of interaction, and keeping up with them can quickly turn into a frustrating and repetitive chore.

As someone who’s tired of switching between apps just to keep up, I couldn’t wait to try Openvibea centralized social media client designed to simplify this juggling act. For me, Openvibe took out a lot of the friction of managing multiple accounts. The app’s unified feed and cross-posting functionality allows me to stay connected and share updates on Bluesky, Mastodon, Threads, and Nostr in one place. If I want to release the same update to all of these platforms, I can do it with just one click, which has been a game changer in terms of saving time and common sense.

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Openvibe is developed by the Czech Republic-based company Tweetoshi. Initially known for its Bitcoin-centric Twitter client, Tweetoshi adapted to the changing social media landscape by creating Openvibe.

The app allows users to manage multiple accounts and networks in one place. Openvibe is free on iOS and Android and compatible with iPad and Mac. Openvibe also addresses the lack of dedicated apps for iPad users for Bluesky and Threads, providing a much-needed native app experience.

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Openvibe mobile client for iOS, connected to four separate social networks.

Screenshot by Jason Perlow/ZDNET

Unified timeline with contextual network tags

Using Openvibe for the first time, I was struck by the clarity and simplicity of the interface. Instead of juggling apps and struggling to keep up with conversations, Openvibe brings together all posts from Bluesky, Mastodon, Threads, and Nostr into a cohesive timeline. It’s refreshing to scroll through a single feed without missing updates from people on networks – something I previously found impossible.

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Openvibe’s “network beacons” are a small but essential touch. These tags appear in the post header, indicating the origin of each post: Mastodon, Bluesky, Threads or Nostr. They have become my quick visual cue, allowing me to instantly know where each message is coming from without interrupting the reading flow. It’s a simple feature that makes a big difference in feeling connected to each platform without the usual confusion of switching between apps.

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Openvibe home feed, consolidating Mastodon and Bluesky posts displayed.

Screenshot by Jason Perlow/ZDNET

Effortless cross-platform publishing

One of the things I’ve found most useful about Openvibe is its cross-platform publishing capability. Instead of copying and pasting the same message into multiple apps, I can write it once and choose where it should go: Mastodon, Bluesky, Nostr, Threads, or all with a single click. This has been a game changer, especially for anyone managing multiple accounts. Before OpenVibe, following different networks felt like a full-time job; now I’m more efficient and less likely to neglect a platform.

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The app offers almost complete functionality for Mastodon, Bluesky and Nostr, from posting to rich interactions such as tagging and replies. With Threads, however, Openvibe ran into some API limitations, so markup and some advanced interactions aren’t there yet. Interestingly, I discovered that tagging works if the Threads user is federated through Mastodon – a feature you can enable in your Threads settings.

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Selective crossposting using Openvibe.

Screenshot by Jason Perlow/ZDNET

Although Openvibe’s cross-posting feature is incredibly convenient, it is not without some problems. One issue I’ve noticed is with link embedding: when I include a link in a post, Bluesky doesn’t always generate a link preview or map when it’s visible in the native client and website, which makes the publications less complete. Fortunately, the Openvibe team is aware of this and is working on a fix.

Marking also has its quirks. Bluesky and Nostr handle tags transparently, but (depending on which server you’re on) Mastodon can sometimes have trouble extracting usernames, causing delays or failing to tag the intended user. It’s minor, but if you rely on marking for engagement it can be frustrating. Despite these bumps, OpenVibe cross-publishing still saves me a lot of time, and I hope these adjustments are fixed soon.

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Tagging profiles on social networks in Openvibe.

Screenshot by Jason Perlow/ZDNET

Advanced timeline and feed customization

Openvibe truly understands the need for personalized content feeds, especially if you want to focus on specific topics or communities on social platforms. For example, the app allows Bluesky and Mastodon users to access their list feeds, while Threads and Nostr users can view their following lists directly in Openvibe. This flexibility is a game-changer for anyone who prefers content organized on a broad, single timeline, making Openvibe a powerful tool for anyone invested in specialized feeds or niche communities.

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Support for multiple timelines in Openvibe.

Screenshot by Jason Perlow/ZDNET

Beyond simple deadlines, Openvibe’s customization options go further. The app includes a True Dark mode optimized for OLED displays, as well as font and theme adjustments, allowing users to tailor the interface to their liking.

Soon, Openvibe will support RSS feeds – an upcoming feature that’s a big draw if you want a centralized hub for social and non-social content. Having everything in one place means fewer apps and more streamlined access to information.

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What sets Openvibe apart is its willingness to fill the usability gaps left by individual social media apps. With native iPad support (filling the void of Bluesky and Threads apps on the device) and the ability to run on a Mac thanks to iPadOS compatibility, Openvibe positions itself as an essential tool for seamless cross-platform access .

A project in progress with promising potential

Although Openvibe has its limitations, the team’s quick response to user feedback suggests a bright future for the app. As Openvibe works to improve link integration, refine tagging functionality, and expand RSS integration, it’s clear that this isn’t just a temporary solution: it’s a cutting-edge tool for today’s social media challenges.

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In an age of fragmented networks and platform-specific barriers, Openvibe offers an intelligent, integrated approach that is invaluable for users seeking efficiency and clarity. It minimizes redundancy, streamlines content sharing, and gives users a much-needed unified space to navigate the scattered social media landscape.

Currently free, Openvibe’s cross-platform presence and user-centric approach make it a strong contender among social media customers. As a bridge between platforms, it is designed to make engagement across networks smoother and simpler, while helping users who want a more efficient way to stay connected in today’s diverse digital spaces .