Skip to main content
Facebook logo
vs
PixelFed logo
Try PixelFed

Facebook vs PixelFed: Is Your Data Safer in the EU?

Discover why privacy-conscious users are considering PixelFed, the EU's answer to Facebook, for enhanced data security and peace of mind.

Last updated: February 19, 2026Reviewed by Built in EU Team

Should You Switch to PixelFed?

What You Gain

Enhanced privacy, open-source, decentralized platform

Privacy advantage
Trade-offs

Limited features and smaller user base compared to Facebook

Facebook has more features
Bottom Line

Switch if privacy is priority; stay for features and global reach

At a Glance

Data Location
🇺🇸US

US data laws

🇪🇺EU

GDPR protected

Pricing

Facebook

freemium

PixelFed

free

Migration
Medium difficulty~2-4 hours

Privacy & Compliance Comparison

Critical data sovereignty factors at a glance

CriteriaFacebookPixelFed
Server Location
US (Facebook data centers), EU (optional)EU (various locations)
GDPR Compliance
Partial (SCCs)Full
Open Source
E2E Encryption
Enterprise onlyOptional
Data Portability
PartialFull export

CLOUD Act Notice

Facebook is a US company and must comply with CLOUD Act data requests, even for data stored in EU data centers. PixelFed is not subject to US jurisdiction.

Switching from
Facebook logo

Facebook

🇺🇸

Facebook

VS
Switching to
PixelFed logo

PixelFed

🇪🇺

PixelFed

US Data Storage

Data subject to US CLOUD Act and may be accessed by US authorities

EU Data Protection

Data protected under GDPR with EU-only data residency

Certifications & Compliance

No certifications listed

Open Source
EU-hosted

Reasons to Switch

  • GDPR compliance ensures data protection
  • Decentralized servers reduce single-point failure
  • Open-source code allows community audits
  • No ads enhance user experience and focus

Things to Consider

  • !Fewer users limit global reach
  • !Migration can be time-consuming
  • !Learning new interface may be challenging
Migration difficulty:
Medium
~2-4 hours

Migration Overview

Full guide
Difficulty
Medium
Time Estimate
~2-4 hours

Depends on data size and complexity

Quick Steps

1

Create PixelFed account and configure settings

2

Export and prepare data from Facebook

3

Import data, test integrations, and migrate users

Note: Switching from Facebook to PixelFed may require users to adapt to a different platform structure and community.

Other alternatives to Facebook

Ready to make the switch?

Start using PixelFed today and take control of your data privacy.

Facebook vs PixelFed: Is Your Data Safer in the EU? | BuiltInEu | BuiltInEu