Social news platform Post on Thursday announced the launch of its iOS app for iPhones in an effort to reach a wider, more mainstream audience.
One of a handful of Twitter alternatives that cropped up after Elon Musk’s takeover of the social media platform, Post differs by connecting users to ad-free content from publishers through micropayments. A press release also highlights Post’s “robust moderation tools,” which stand in contrast to Twitter’s loosened content moderation under Musk.
The social media platform has more than 440,000 users since it first launched eight months ago, according to a press release. Other Twitter alternatives include Bluesky, an invite-only app that has been downloaded approximately 780,000 times, and Mastodon, which has been downloaded approximately 4.4 million times, according to app intelligence company data.ai. (Twitter, meanwhile, had more than 250 million daily active users as of November, according to a tweet from Musk.)
“Getting the app live is the next big step in bringing Post to everyone, everywhere,” said Noam Bardin, the chief executive and founder of Post and former CEO of navigation software company Waze.
How does Post work?
Post has users make micropayments to access individual articles, allowing them to view content from multiple news outlets without subscribing to each one. Premium content costs “a few cents,” according to Post’s press release.
To pay for premium content, users first add a bundle of Post Points to their account balance. Bundles range from 300 points for $4.20 to 10,000 for $126.70. Content prices vary.
Users can also tip publishers and creators directly for their work.
Musk in April said Twitter would also allow media publishers to charge users on a per-article basis starting in May, but the feature has yet to materialize on the platform. When reached for comment, Twitter’s media relations email account replied with the poop emoji.
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Who’s on Post?
USA TODAY was the first major publishing partner on the platform. Other partners include Fortune, NBC News, Politico, ProPublica and Reuters. Post’s press release says there are more than 30 premium publishers and “countless experts and academics” using the platform to distribute content without ads.
What’s on the app?
The app includes new features such as native video uploads, push notifications, trending topics and more, according to the press release.
