Openvibe merges Mastodon, Bluesky, and Nostr into a single social app

Openvibe: A Unified Solution for the Fractured Social Web

The landscape of social networking has experienced notable shifts, particularly following the rebranding of Twitter to X. As users migrate to alternatives like Mastodon, Bluesky, Nostr, and Threads, the challenge of managing multiple decentralized networks has emerged. Addressing this issue, a new application, Openvibe, aims to streamline social interactions by integrating various networks into a single interface.

One App to Connect Them All

Openvibe offers a unified timeline where users can interact with friends and followers from different social platforms, including Mastodon, Nostr, and Bluesky, with plans to incorporate Threads soon. The app also enables cross-posting across multiple networks, aiming to provide a seamless experience for users. According to CEO Matej Svancer, the goal is to create an "easy-to-use gateway" to the open social web, simplifying the fragmented digital social landscape.

A Shift in Focus

Originally focused on a Twitter client, the team behind Openvibe pivoted after Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter led many early adopters to seek alternatives in the open social web. The team's prior projects, including a Nostr-powered app called Plebstr, have now been integrated into Openvibe. User feedback about the difficulty of navigating multiple protocols was a key factor in this evolution. Svancer emphasized that while existing solutions require additional servers and mirror accounts, Openvibe connects directly to existing accounts without such requirements.

Meeting Users' Needs

The increasing variety of social networks has created a demand for tools to help users manage their digital presence efficiently. Besides the decentralized network Mastodon, built on the ActivityPub protocol, notable entrants include Bluesky, with 6 million users, and Nostr, which has gained the support of Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. Despite some startups failing, the sector remains dynamic, with new platforms aimed at various demographics constantly emerging.

Aggregation and Integration

Amidst this proliferation of social networks, new aggregation tools have surfaced, combining social feeds with traditional news sources. For instance, The Iconfactory is developing a social aggregator, while Reeder's developer is working on incorporating social sources into their app. However, Openvibe stands out by offering a simple, streamlined solution for the open social web. By logging into existing accounts on supported networks, users can instantly follow all friends in a combined timeline, including a unified trending section and cross-posting capabilities.

Future Plans and Support

Openvibe's future plans include broader support for Threads, facilitated by the recent availability of the Threads API. While the latest release already includes Bluesky support, the team, consisting of Svancer, two developers, and a designer, aims to enhance its offerings continuously. Backed by angel investors and an NYC accelerator, Openvibe is available for free on mobile platforms with future plans to experiment with desktop versions and introduce a subscription model for revenue generation.