Moving your social connections from a centralized platform to the fediverse feels like packing up your entire address book and moving to a new town. You do not want to lose anyone along the way. The good news is that several open source tools now exist to handle exactly this task. They help you export your list of followers, the accounts you follow, and even your blocked or muted users. Once exported, you can import that data into your new Mastodon, Pixelfed, or other fediverse account.
Migrating your social graph to the fediverse does not require manual re-following of hundreds of accounts. With open source tools like Movetodon, Fedifinder, and Debirdify, you can export your Twitter or Instagram network and import it into Mastodon, Pixelfed, or any ActivityPub compatible service. Each tool handles a specific platform or data type, so choosing the right one for your source platform is essential. Always verify your export file before importing to avoid errors.
Why your social graph matters more than your posts
Your posts are easy to recreate. Your network is not. The people you follow and the people who follow you represent years of trust, shared interests, and community building. When you leave a centralized platform, rebuilding that network from scratch is the hardest part of the transition.
Open source tools to migrate your social graph to the fediverse solve this exact problem. They automate the process of finding your existing connections on the new platform. Some tools scan your old account and match handles to known fediverse accounts. Others generate a CSV file that you can upload directly into your new Mastodon server.
The 5 best open source tools for 2026
Here are the tools that the fediverse community relies on most in 2026. Each one is open source, meaning you can inspect the code, run it locally, or contribute improvements.
1. Movetodon
Movetodon is the most popular bridge between Twitter and Mastodon. It works by connecting to your Twitter account via the official API and scanning your following list. It then cross references those accounts against a database of known fediverse profiles. When it finds a match, it lets you follow that account on your chosen Mastodon server with a single click.
- Supports both follows and followers migration
- Handles blocked and muted account lists
- Runs entirely in your browser with no server storage
- Exports a CSV file as a backup
The tool is maintained by a small team of fediverse advocates and receives regular updates. If you are moving from Twitter, start here.
2. Fedifinder
Fedifinder takes a different approach. Instead of relying on an API, it scans your existing social media profiles and looks for fediverse handles in bios, link trees, and pinned posts. This makes it useful for Instagram and LinkedIn, where API access is more restricted.
- Scans profile bios for fediverse mentions
- Works with Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn
- No account login required for scanning
- Exports results as a plain text list
Fedifinder is ideal for finding the people who already posted their Mastodon or Pixelfed handle publicly. It does not require any authentication, which makes it safer for privacy conscious users.
3. Debirdify
Debirdify started as a tool for Twitter users and has evolved into a general purpose social graph migrator. It supports multiple output formats including Mastodon CSV, Pixelfed CSV, and a simple text file. The tool also includes a verification step that checks whether a matched account is still active on the fediverse.
- Supports Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit as source platforms
- Verifies account activity before adding to your list
- Exports in multiple fediverse formats
- Includes a dry run mode to preview results
Debirdify is a strong choice if you want to verify that the accounts you are importing are still active. Dead accounts waste your time and clutter your feed.
4. Mastodon’s built in import tool
Mastodon itself includes an open source import feature. You can upload a CSV file containing the account handles you want to follow. The format is simple: one handle per line, using the full ActivityPub address (for example, @[email protected]). You can generate this CSV manually or use any of the tools above to create it.
- Native feature, no third party risk
- Supports follows, blocks, mutes, and domain blocks
- Handles up to 10,000 entries per import
- Rate limited to prevent spam
This is the safest method because your data never leaves your server. Generate your CSV locally, then import it directly through the Mastodon settings panel.
5. Pixelfed migration helper
If you are moving photos and the accounts you follow on Instagram, Pixelfed offers a dedicated migration helper. This open source tool connects to Instagram’s data download feature. You export your Instagram data (which includes your follower and following lists), then upload the JSON file to the helper. It converts the data into a format that Pixelfed can import.
- Works with Instagram’s official data export
- Converts JSON to Pixelfed compatible CSV
- Preserves follower relationships where possible
- Open source and auditable
This tool is essential for photographers and visual artists who have built a following on Instagram and want to bring that community to Pixelfed.
How to choose the right tool for your situation
Not every tool works for every platform. Use this table to match your source platform to the best tool.
| Source Platform | Best Tool | Backup Tool | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Movetodon | Debirdify | Movetodon has the best match rate for Twitter | |
| Pixelfed migration helper | Fedifinder | Pixelfed helper requires your Instagram data export | |
| Fedifinder | None | Fedifinder scans bios, no API needed | |
| Debirdify | None | Debirdify supports Reddit account migration | |
| Multiple sources | Debirdify | Mastodon import | Debirdify handles multiple source formats |
Step by step migration process
Follow these steps to move your social graph without losing anyone.
-
Export your data from the source platform. For Twitter, use the official data download. For Instagram, use the “Download your information” feature. For Reddit, use the data request tool in your account settings.
-
Choose the matching tool from the table above. Run the tool locally if you prefer. Most tools offer a web version that runs in your browser without sending your data to a server.
-
Review the matched accounts. Check for errors. Some matches may be incorrect if two accounts share a display name. Remove any that look wrong.
-
Generate the CSV or text file. Save it to your computer. Keep a backup copy.
-
Open your Mastodon or Pixelfed settings. Navigate to the import section. Upload your file. Confirm the import.
-
Verify the results. Check your following list. Make sure the accounts you care about most are there. If any are missing, you can follow them manually.
“The most common mistake people make is skipping the review step. They import a CSV full of false matches and end up following random accounts. Always preview before you import.” — Fediverse migration guide, 2026
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
People make a few predictable errors when using open source tools to migrate their social graph. Here is what to watch for.
- Matching by display name only. Two accounts can share the same display name. Always verify the full handle, including the instance domain.
- Importing too fast. Mastodon rate limits imports. If you try to follow 5,000 accounts in one go, the server may reject the batch. Split large imports into chunks of 500.
- Forgetting muted and blocked lists. These lists are part of your social graph too. Export them separately and import them after your follows.
- Using an outdated tool version. The fediverse changes fast. A tool that worked six months ago may not support the latest ActivityPub features. Check the repository for recent commits before you start.
What to do after the migration
Once your follows and followers are in place, take a few minutes to clean up. Remove any accounts that turned out to be inactive or spam. Update your profile to mention that you migrated from your old platform. This helps your old followers find you on the fediverse.
If you want to go deeper, check out our guide on how to migrate your Twitter followers to Mastodon without losing anyone. It covers edge cases like suspended accounts and protected profiles.
Your network is your home
Moving to the fediverse should not mean starting over. Your social graph represents real relationships and shared history. These open source tools let you bring that history with you. They respect your privacy, give you control over your data, and work with the platforms you already use.
Take an afternoon to run through the steps. Export your data. Match your accounts. Import your network. By dinner time, your new fediverse home will feel just as full as the old one.