Content Writer at SocialBee
With all the buzz around Bluesky, you’re probably asking yourself how it compares to Twitter (now X). Both social media platforms have ties to founder and ex Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, but Bluesky takes a different approach by focusing on decentralization.
Unlike X’s business model, where control is centralized under a single entity, decentralization in Bluesky means that users can manage their own data and content without relying on a central authority. This allows for more user autonomy and privacy.
As social media evolves under Musk’s control of X, Bluesky is offering a fresh Twitter alternative by introducing a decentralized model. This means users can set up custom domains, control their own content, and even have more flexibility over what they see and share—without the heavy oversight found on centralized platforms like X.
In this article, we’ll break down how Bluesky’s decentralized structure offers more control and customization compared to X’s traditional, top-down approach.
Streamline your marketing with an efficient social media strategy template.
Short Summary
- Bluesky gives users more control through its decentralized model. This means that instead of relying on a single company (like X) to manage data and content, users can control their own information and interactions more independently. X, on the other hand, is a centrally managed platform with more built-in features but less user autonomy.
- You can’t natively schedule posts on Bluesky like you can on X, though external tools like SocialBee can help.
- While X supports polls as a post format, Bluesky doesn’t.
- X offers paid subscriptions, a social inbox and analytics tools through X Premium, features Bluesky lacks.
- Bluesky doesn’t have verification badges, paid ads, or monetization tools for creators, unlike X. However, a way to verify your Bluesky account is to link your domain to your username.
Table of contents
- What is the Bluesky app?
- Bluesky vs Twitter: what are the main differences?
- 1. Bluesky is a decentralized social network
- 2. You can’t natively schedule posts on Bluesky
- 3. Bluesky offers hashtag customization
- 4. You can’t create polls or stories on Bluesky
- 5. Both have character limits
- 6. X offers paid subscriptions
- 7. There are no verification badges on Bluesky
- 8. Bluesky doesn’t offer monetization tools for creators
- 9. Bluesky doesn’t support paid ads
- 10. Bluesky doesn’t offer analytics tools
- 11. You can’t customize your Bluesky profile beyond basic info
- 12. There are differences in the Discover tab
- 13. Bluesky offers more post interaction customization features
- 14. X Pro has an in-built social inbox
- Should you use both Bluesky and X?
- Frequently asked questions
- The Future of Bluesky and Twitter
What is the Bluesky app?
Bluesky is a social media platform designed to give users more control over their data and experience. Unlike X or Threads, which rely on centralized systems controlled by corporations, Bluesky uses decentralization to empower its users. This means you have more say over how your data is used, who can access it, and how your content appears.
At first, Bluesky started as an idea inside X but is now an independent company, founded by Twitter co-founder and ex-CEO Jack Dorsey; while X is now coordinated by CEO Elon Musk. The Bluesky social platform was launched in early 2023. The platform started with an invite-only model but has since expanded to allow more users to join.
As of now, Bluesky has around 24 million active users and continues to grow as more people are drawn to its decentralized and user-controlled environment.
It you’re wondering who owns Bluesky now, the platform is currently led by CEO Jay Graber, who’s focused on building a system that sets Bluesky apart from more traditional social networks.
What makes Bluesky special as a social platform is that users can:
- Choose or create custom domains to represent their profiles.
- Use customizable algorithms to influence what content appears on their feeds.
- Select different servers (similar to the Mastodon server), giving them more control over the rules and Bluesky community guidelines they follow.
Bluesky vs Twitter: what are the main differences?
Bluesky and X may seem similar at first, but they have some key differences. Twitter offers more features, but Bluesky aims to create a different kind of social experience.
Here’s a look at the main differences between Bluesky and Twitter:
- Bluesky is a decentralized social network
- You can’t natively schedule posts on Bluesky
- Bluesky offers hashtag customization
- You can’t create polls or stories on Bluesky
- Both have character limits
- X offers paid subscriptions
- There are no verification badges on Bluesky
- Bluesky doesn’t offer monetization tools for creators
- Bluesky doesn’t support paid ads
- Bluesky doesn’t offer analytics tools
- You can’t customize your Bluesky profile beyond basic info
- There are differences in the Discover tab
- Bluesky offers more post interaction customization features
- X Pro has an in-built social inbox
1. Bluesky is a decentralized social network
Bluesky is a decentralized social media platform that gives users more control over their data and interactions. In a decentralized system, control isn’t held by one central company (like X or Meta), but rather distributed among users and different servers. This allows people to make more decisions about how their data is used and how they engage with the platform.
For example, on Bluesky:
- Users can select or create their own servers (known as “instances”) with specific rules and communities.
- They can customize their experience by choosing algorithms that show them the content they prefer, rather than having content dictated by a central algorithm like on X.
Bluesky even allows users to use their own custom domains, which allows them to verify their accounts without needing approval from the platform.
Bluesky focuses on decentralization and user control, while X remains more centralized. Though it’s still growing, Bluesky’s emphasis on privacy, autonomy, and user customization sets it apart from traditional platforms where users have less say in how their data and interactions are managed.
2. You can’t natively schedule posts on Bluesky
Bluesky currently doesn’t offer a native option for scheduling posts. On X, users with an X Premium plan can schedule tweets in advance. To do this, they create their tweet, select the schedule option, and choose a specific date and time for it to be posted. This allows users more flexibility and the ability to maintain a consistent posting schedule without needing to be online at specific times.
Bluesky users, however, need to post in real-time, which can be limiting for those who prefer to plan their content ahead or manage multiple accounts. Without this scheduling feature, content creators or businesses may find it harder to maintain regular engagement compared to platforms like X, where scheduling tools are readily available.
PRO TIP
If you’re juggling content for both Bluesky and X and need to streamline the process, SocialBee is the perfect solution.
SocialBee is a scheduling tool that lets you plan, schedule, and automate your posts across multiple platforms, including X and Bluesky. You can set up your posts in advance, decide when they should go live, and keep your feeds active even when you’re not online.
While using SocialBee, you avoid the hassle of posting manually, save time, and ensure a consistent social media presence without constantly having to log in to post at specific times. This is especially useful for businesses and creators who manage multiple accounts or want to focus on interacting with their followers instead of getting bogged down with scheduling logistics.
Schedule your Bluesky and X content from one place: SocialBee.
3. Bluesky offers hashtag customization
Hashtags, a feature long associated with X, are now available on Bluesky, but with a unique twist.
When users click or tap a hashtag, they can choose to see all posts with that tag, view only the posts from the current user, or mute the hashtag if they no longer want to engage with that topic. This gives users more control over their feeds and interactions.
On X, while you can’t mute specific hashtags, you can mute individual words or entire accounts. This offers a different type of control, letting users block content that includes specific keywords or comes from certain profiles.
4. You can’t create polls or stories on Bluesky
While X offers the ability to create polls, Bluesky does not currently support this feature. Polls are a popular way for Twitter users to engage followers and gather quick feedback on a variety of topics. However, neither platform supports stories, which are common on other social networks like Instagram.
The lack of polls on Bluesky limits its interactive capabilities compared to X, where users can easily involve their followers in decision-making or discussions.
For users who value the quick, informal engagement that polls provide, X holds the advantage, while Bluesky remains more focused on standard post interactions.
5. Both have character limits
Bluesky and X both limit post length, but there’s not much difference in the free plans. Bluesky gives you 300 characters per post, while X allows 280 characters. It’s a small gap that won’t make a big difference in most cases.
However, if you subscribe to X’s X Pro plan, you can share posts that are up to 4,000 characters long. Otherwise, both platforms are pretty similar when it comes to posting and interacting with followers in the free versions.
6. X offers paid subscriptions
X provides users with the option to subscribe to X Pro (previously Twitter Blue), which unlocks additional features for a monthly fee. These features are designed to enhance the user experience and provide more functionality for content creators, businesses, and active users.
Here’s what X Pro offers:
- X Pro users can post tweets of up to 4,000 characters, compared to the standard 280 characters.
- Users can edit tweets within a specific time window after posting to correct mistakes or make changes.
- A blue verification badge is given to indicate the account’s authenticity.
- Replies from X Pro users are prioritized in conversations, making them more visible in comment threads.
- Subscribers can upload videos up to 60 minutes long, compared to the 2-minute 20-second limit for non-subscribers.
- Users can organize their saved tweets into custom bookmark folders for easier access.
- Reader mode, a feature that makes long threads easier to read by displaying them in a simplified format.
- X Pro users can customize their app icons and themes for a more personalized experience.
- “Undo tweet”, this feature gives users a chance to recall a tweet shortly after sending it, preventing immediate errors from going live.
In contrast, Bluesky doesn’t offer any paid subscription models or premium features. All users have the same access to the platform’s capabilities without needing to pay for additional tools.
7. There are no verification badges on Bluesky
Bluesky doesn’t use traditional verification badges like X. Instead, users can prove their authenticity by using custom domains.
When a user sets up their profile, they can link a domain they own (e.g., username.com) to their account. This process involves verifying that they actually control the domain, typically by adding a verification record to the domain’s settings or through a DNS check.
Once a custom domain is linked, it appears as part of the user’s profile URL, making it clear that the profile is associated with a specific domain they own. This adds a layer of authenticity because owning a domain requires control and authority over that web address, making it more reliable than a simple username.
8. Bluesky doesn’t offer monetization tools for creators
One of the key features of X is its monetization tools for content creators. Through X Pro and various revenue-sharing options, creators can monetize their posts by offering subscriptions, receiving tips, or sharing ad revenue.
Bluesky, on the other hand, does not yet offer any built-in monetization tools for creators. This means that content creators looking to make money from their content will need to rely on external platforms or services to monetize their audience outside of Bluesky.
While this may limit the income potential for some users, it helps keep the platform more focused on genuine social interactions rather than content monetization.
9. Bluesky doesn’t support paid ads
One key difference between Bluesky and other social networks like X is that Bluesky doesn’t support paid ads. This means users won’t see sponsored posts or promotions in their own feeds, which helps keep the experience more focused on content from friends and other users.
This is how X ads look like, for example:
Unlike platforms that rely on ads, Bluesky’s approach creates a more organic interaction between accounts.
Bluesky CEO Jay Graber and her team created a more user-driven environment, where people can engage with each other without the distraction of paid content, offering a more genuine experience compared to ad-heavy social networks.
When it comes to ads, she says “There will always be free options, and we can’t enshittify the network with ads. This is where federation comes in. The fact that anyone can self-host and anyone can build on the software means that we’ll never be able to degrade the user experience in a way where people want to leave.”
This setup allows users to focus more on posts from their friends and other accounts they follow, without being interrupted by ads trying to grab attention.
10. Bluesky doesn’t offer analytics tools
Bluesky currently doesn’t provide analytics tools for tracking post performance or engagement. On X, these tools are available but only through the X Premium subscription. With X Premium, users can track how their tweets are performing, monitor follower growth, and get insights into post engagement, helping them refine their content strategy.
Without a similar analytics feature on Bluesky, users don’t have the same access to data that can help them understand how their content is resonating with followers. For creators and businesses who rely on analytics to guide their strategies, X’s X Premium plan offers an advantage, while Bluesky remains more basic in terms of performance tracking.
11. You can’t customize your Bluesky profile beyond basic info
On X, users have more extensive customization options for their profiles, including the ability to add a website, select a business category (such as entertainment, financial, etc.), and provide additional details like a location to help personalize their presence.
In contrast, Bluesky offers simpler customization, allowing users to add a profile picture, cover photo, bio, and name, but without the extra fields like website links or categories.
12. There are differences in the Discover tab
Unlike X, Bluesky allows you to follow different feeds, providing more control over the type of content you want to see. This gives users the option to curate their own experience by subscribing to feeds that align with their interests.
On X, while you can follow accounts and engage with trending topics, there isn’t a similar feature where you can follow different curated feeds like Bluesky.
Here’s how the Explore tab looks like on X:
Instead, trending topics and personalized suggestions dominate the X “For you” tab, which is driven more by your activity on the platform.
13. Bluesky offers more post interaction customization features
When you create a post on Bluesky, you can customize who can interact with it before you share it. You can adjust quote settings (enabling or disabling quote posts) and reply settings, allowing replies from everyone, nobody, only mentioned users, or followed users.
In contrast, on X, interaction options are tied to the “Protect your Tweets” feature, which limits interactions only to approved followers. In Protected mode, followers can like and comment but cannot retweet your posts.
Additionally, your protected tweets won’t appear in public search results like Google, though they will still show up in Twitter’s own search. However, unlike Bluesky, these settings need to be changed in the global settings and affect all posts, rather than being customizable on an individual post basis.
14. X Pro has a built-in social inbox
With X Pro, users can manage comments, direct messages (DMs), and mentions all in one place, making it easier to manage interactions on the platform.
In contrast, Bluesky doesn’t have a social inbox feature. While you can still engage with comments and mentions individually, you can’t manage them from a single dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
The Future of Bluesky and Twitter
As social media evolves, Bluesky and Twitter each offer something different. Bluesky stands out for its decentralized, user-controlled approach, while Twitter provides more advanced tools and a larger user base. Your choice depends on whether you prioritize privacy and control or more than basic features and a higher reach.
Whichever platform you choose, managing your posts can still be time-consuming. To make it easier, plan your content with a scheduling tool like SocialBee. Start your 14-day free SocialBee trial today and take control of your content across platforms.
