# Mastodon / Fediverse Instance Directory Scraper (`jungle_synthesizer/joinmastodon-instances-social-directory-scraper`) Actor Scrape Mastodon instance directories from joinmastodon.org. Returns domain, software version, user counts, monthly active users, registration state, region, language, and categories. Ideal for fediverse research, VC scouts, and content-moderation tooling. - **URL**: https://apify.com/jungle\_synthesizer/joinmastodon-instances-social-directory-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [BowTiedRaccoon](https://apify.com/jungle_synthesizer) (community) - **Categories:** Social media, Business, Developer tools - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing Pay per event This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## Mastodon / Fediverse Instance Directory Scraper Scrape Mastodon instance directories from joinmastodon.org. Returns instance domain, software version, user counts, monthly active users, registration state, region, language, and categories. **Source:** `api.joinmastodon.org/servers` — the official Mastodon directory API. No authentication required. ~312 curated instances. --- ### What you get Each record contains: | Field | Description | |---|---| | `instance_domain` | Instance domain (e.g. `mastodon.social`) | | `source_directory` | Always `joinmastodon.org` | | `software` | Always `mastodon` (joinmastodon.org curates Mastodon instances only) | | `software_version` | Mastodon version string (e.g. `4.5.9`) | | `users_total` | Total registered users | | `active_users_week` | Active users in the past week | | `open_registrations` | `true` if the instance accepts signups without approval | | `region` | Geographic region (e.g. `europe`, `north_america`, `asia`) | | `language` | Primary language code (e.g. `en`, `ja`, `de`) | | `languages` | All supported language codes (comma-separated) | | `category` | Primary category (e.g. `general`, `tech`, `art`, `music`) | | `categories` | All categories (comma-separated) | | `description` | Server description text | | `thumbnail_url` | Server thumbnail image URL | | `source_url` | `https://joinmastodon.org/servers` | --- ### Input options | Field | Default | Description | |---|---|---| | `language` | _(empty)_ | Filter by language code (`en`, `ja`, `de`, ...) | | `category` | _(empty)_ | Filter by category (`general`, `tech`, `art`, `music`, ...) | | `region` | _(empty)_ | Filter by region (`europe`, `north_america`, `asia-pacific`, ...) | | `openRegistrationsOnly` | `false` | Return only instances open for immediate signup | | `maxItems` | `0` | Maximum records to return. `0` = no limit (returns all ~312) | --- ### Use cases - **Fediverse research** — Map the Mastodon ecosystem by region, language, and category - **VC / investor diligence** — Identify large or fast-growing instances for investment analysis - **Content moderation tooling** — Enumerate active instances for policy or safety research - **Academic social-network studies** — Dataset of decentralised social platforms and their demographics - **Community building** — Find instances open for registration in specific languages or topics --- ### Notes - Data source is the official `api.joinmastodon.org/servers` endpoint — curated by the Mastodon project - Only Mastodon instances are included (not Pleroma, Misskey, or GoToSocial — use instances.social for those) - The directory lists ~312 active, curated instances as of 2026 - API is open, CDN-cached (5-minute TTL), and requires no credentials - One API call returns all data — no pagination, no proxy required # Actor input Schema ## `sp_intended_usage` (type: `string`): Please describe how you plan to use the data extracted by this crawler. ## `sp_improvement_suggestions` (type: `string`): Provide any feedback or suggestions for improvements. ## `sp_contact` (type: `string`): Provide your email address so we can get in touch with you. ## `language` (type: `string`): Filter by primary language code (e.g. 'en', 'ja', 'de'). Leave blank for all languages. ## `category` (type: `string`): Filter by category (e.g. 'general', 'tech', 'art', 'music'). Leave blank for all categories. ## `region` (type: `string`): Filter by region (e.g. 'europe', 'north_america'). Leave blank for all regions. ## `openRegistrationsOnly` (type: `boolean`): When enabled, only return instances that do not require approval to join. ## `maxItems` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of instances to return. Set to 0 for no limit. ## Actor input object example ```json { "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "openRegistrationsOnly": false, "maxItems": 10 } ```` # Actor output Schema ## `results` (type: `string`): No description # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "language": "", "category": "", "region": "", "openRegistrationsOnly": false, "maxItems": 10 }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("jungle_synthesizer/joinmastodon-instances-social-directory-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "language": "", "category": "", "region": "", "openRegistrationsOnly": False, "maxItems": 10, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("jungle_synthesizer/joinmastodon-instances-social-directory-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "language": "", "category": "", "region": "", "openRegistrationsOnly": false, "maxItems": 10 }' | apify call jungle_synthesizer/joinmastodon-instances-social-directory-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=jungle_synthesizer/joinmastodon-instances-social-directory-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Mastodon / Fediverse Instance Directory Scraper", "description": "Scrape Mastodon instance directories from joinmastodon.org. Returns domain, software version, user counts, monthly active users, registration state, region, language, and categories. Ideal for fediverse research, VC scouts, and content-moderation tooling.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "AC2mdnryYZOVyz0Dp" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/jungle_synthesizer~joinmastodon-instances-social-directory-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-jungle_synthesizer-joinmastodon-instances-social-directory-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/jungle_synthesizer~joinmastodon-instances-social-directory-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-jungle_synthesizer-joinmastodon-instances-social-directory-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/jungle_synthesizer~joinmastodon-instances-social-directory-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-jungle_synthesizer-joinmastodon-instances-social-directory-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "sp_intended_usage", "sp_improvement_suggestions" ], "properties": { "sp_intended_usage": { "title": "What is the intended usage of this data?", "minLength": 1, "type": "string", "description": "Please describe how you plan to use the data extracted by this crawler." }, "sp_improvement_suggestions": { "title": "How can we improve this crawler for you?", "minLength": 1, "type": "string", "description": "Provide any feedback or suggestions for improvements." }, "sp_contact": { "title": "Contact Email", "minLength": 1, "type": "string", "description": "Provide your email address so we can get in touch with you." }, "language": { "title": "Language Filter", "type": "string", "description": "Filter by primary language code (e.g. 'en', 'ja', 'de'). Leave blank for all languages." }, "category": { "title": "Category Filter", "type": "string", "description": "Filter by category (e.g. 'general', 'tech', 'art', 'music'). Leave blank for all categories." }, "region": { "title": "Region Filter", "type": "string", "description": "Filter by region (e.g. 'europe', 'north_america'). Leave blank for all regions." }, "openRegistrationsOnly": { "title": "Open Registrations Only", "type": "boolean", "description": "When enabled, only return instances that do not require approval to join.", "default": false }, "maxItems": { "title": "Max Items", "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of instances to return. Set to 0 for no limit.", "default": 0 } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```