After Elon Musk bought X, the app previously known as Twitter, in 2022, use of X alternatives has grown as individuals embrace decentralized social networking. Because new networks use distinct protocols that don’t function together, keeping up has been difficult. Openvibe, a new app, addresses that issue. Openvibe lets you see friends and followers on Mastodon, Nostr, Bluesky, and soon Threads on one timeline. It allows simultaneous cross-posting to several networks.
According to CEO Matej Svancer, the company aims to provide a user-friendly and accessible platform for new users to explore the open social web.
The team from the Czech Republic initially started developing a Twitter client called Tweetoshi in 2022. However, when Elon Musk acquired Twitter, they decided to change their direction and concentrate on the open social web. This decision was influenced by the fact that many of the app’s early users had already transitioned to other platforms. Previous endeavors included contributions to a Nostr-powered application called Plebstr, which has since combined with Openvibe. 
Nevertheless, the company’s users expressed their dissatisfaction with the various open social protocols available and the inability to connect and communicate with each other across different networks.
“We have personally encountered this issue, and Openvibe provides a solution,” Svancer explains. While there are already bridges in place, they come with certain requirements such as additional servers, mirror accounts, and opt-in options. We believe there may be a more optimal solution. Openvibe eliminates the hassle of dealing with those issues, allowing you to effortlessly connect your pre-existing accounts. Openvibe aims to make it easier for newcomers to enter this field. I think that the open social space has the potential to disrupt traditional social media platforms, but only if it is able to come together and work as a cohesive unit.
The product caters to the rising demand from users who are seeking tools to navigate the ever-expanding social web, which is becoming more fragmented with the emergence of various startups and projects challenging the tech giants. Aside from the open source project Mastodon, there are also startups making waves in the decentralized social network space. Bluesky, for example, has already amassed 6 million users and is built on the modern AT Protocol. Another noteworthy option is Nostr, a decentralized social protocol that has caught the attention of Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey.
Other smaller startups have attempted to compete with Twitter/X, such as Spoutible and Spill. However, previous endeavors like Post and T2/Pebble have already faced failure. However, the industry remains highly competitive, especially with the introduction of a new social media platform called Noplace, which combines Twitter and MySpace and targets Generation Z.
Meanwhile, recognizing the trajectory of the social web, Meta adopted ActivityPub as the foundation for its latest social network, Threads.
With the multitude of options available, there has been a rise in the development of innovative aggregation tools that blend social feeds and news sources, such as RSS feeds. The Iconfactory, the former developer of Twitter client Twitterrific, is currently focused on creating an app called Tapestry. This app aims to assist individuals in staying updated amidst the chaos. Meanwhile, Silvio Rizzi, the developer of the newsreader app Reeder, is working on a new version that will not only provide news but also incorporate social sources.
Openvibe emerges as a leading contender among these potential competitors, offering a user-friendly platform for aggregating content from the open social web.
In order to access the app, you will need to sign in to your current accounts on the networks that are supported. Once you’re done, you’ll immediately start seeing updates from all your friends in one convenient timeline. The app includes a convenient trending section and the ability to easily cross-post content.
Users have the option to track federated Threads profiles using the app’s Mastodon integration. However, Svancer has exciting plans to enhance support for Threads in the future, beginning with cross-posting.
Although Openvibe had been in development previously, Svancer decided to wait until now to promote the launch because the latest release includes Bluesky support.
The team consists of Svancer, two developers, and one designer. The startup at the pre-seed stage has received support from angel investors and the NYC accelerator Wolf, which Openvibe participated in last year.
Openvibe can be downloaded for free on both iOS and Android devices. Additionally, the team behind Openvibe is considering the possibility of developing a desktop version in the future. In the future, the app will offer a subscription plan as a way to generate revenue.
