# Help for mastodon admins
Source: https://mastodon.site/admins/index

Tips and tricks to manage a mastodon server

We're collecting some useful advice for people running mastodon servers, some of which we've learned running [fully-managed mastodon servers](/mastodon-servers) for our customers.

<Card title="Understanding Mastodon storage usage" icon="leanpub" href="/admins/understanding-space-usage">
  How your mastodon server calculates storage used, and how to clean up old cache.
</Card>


# Mastodon relays
Source: https://mastodon.site/admins/relays

What they are and why you might want to enable them

Mastodon relays.


# Understanding space usage
Source: https://mastodon.site/admins/understanding-space-usage

How your mastodon server calculates storage used

When a Mastodon server is running, it stores different types of data in a number of places.

* The database (PostgreSQL) will store the users and posts of the server, as well as information about other servers, their users and posts too
* The media storage (often [S3-compatible object storage](https://docs.joinmastodon.org/admin/optional/object-storage/)) stores user-uploaded attachments like images or videos, user profile photos (avatars) and profile header images
* The server stores the state of background tasks in queues (Redis)

You can see the storage used by each in the server's admin panel.

<img />

The database is the most important of the data, as well as some of the media storage, though it includes some cache data that can be recreated.

Redis data is important to keep, as losing the queue data might drop some recent posts or federation of data that hasn't yet completed.

## Reducing storage space

Server admins can reduce the usage of their object storage by removing local caches of media attachments, avatars or profile headers. They'll be re-cached if they are needed again, such as when one of the server's users interacts with that remote user.

Steps to clean up the cache data are in the official Mastodon documentation; useful operations to include are:

* [tootctl media remove](https://docs.joinmastodon.org/admin/tootctl/#media-remove)
* [tootctl media remove-orphans](https://docs.joinmastodon.org/admin/tootctl/#media-remove-orphans)

<Tip>If you're using a [mastodon.site managed server](/mastodon-servers), we automatically run these clean up operations for you each night.</Tip>


# How it works
Source: https://mastodon.site/getting-started

What you need to know to get started

## First things first

1. Decide on your [server domain name](#deciding-on-your-domain-name)
2. Decide on your [server pricing plan](#deciding-on-your-server-pricing-plan)
3. [Subscribe today](#start-your-subscription) and let's get going!

## Deciding on your domain name

All mastodon.site subscriptions include a free subdomain on our domain name, or the option to [bring your own domain name](/managed-server/domain-name) at no extra charge.

We'll ask you what you'd prefer to do once you start the subscription. We've also got [guides on configuring an existing domain name](/support/help-mastodon-dns-domain-names) if that's your choice.

## Deciding on your server pricing plan

We offer a few flexible subscription prices for different sized servers, including a plan for single-user servers.

It's fine to start small - this can always be changed later if your server needs grow, or if you feel like you want to downgrade.

<Info>If you're moving from a shared server to a single-user server, check out our [account migration guide](/learn/get-your-own-mastodon-server).</Info>

## Start your subscription

Start the subscription by selecting the plan you'd like on the [server pricing page](/mastodon-servers) - all payments are secured by Stripe and you can manage your payment details with them at any time.

You'll be asked for an email address during payment; we'll contact you on that email address once the payment is confirmed to ask about your domain name choices.

<Tip>You can [reach out to us](/support/overview) at any point if you have questions - and if for any reason, you change your mind after subscribing, we can fix that for you too.</Tip>


# Best mastodon apps
Source: https://mastodon.site/learn/best-apps

A list of mastodon apps available

The team behind Mastodon provide free apps to use for iOS and Android, which you can find on the [joinmastodon.org site](https://joinmastodon.org/apps), but here's a few apps people like.

<Tip>These apps work great with [social.mastodon.site](https://social.mastodon.site) and all of the [fully-managed mastodon servers](/mastodon-servers) we run for our customers.</Tip>

## iOS (iPhone + iPad)

* [Ivory](https://apps.apple.com/app/ivory-for-mastodon-by-tapbots/id6444602274) (Paid)
* [Tooot](https://apps.apple.com/app/tooot/id1549772269)
* [Trunks](https://apps.apple.com/app/trunks-for-mastodon/id6444749479)

## Android

* [Tusky for Mastodon](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.keylesspalace.tusky)
* [Focus](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=allen.town.focus.mastodon) (Paid)
* [Tooot](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xmflsct.app.tooot)

<Card title="Mastodon 101 - how to get started" icon="newspaper" href="/blog/posts/new-to-mastodon-101">
  So you want to try out Mastodon? here's everything you need to know.
</Card>


# Move to a new server
Source: https://mastodon.site/learn/get-your-own-mastodon-server

Migrating your mastodon account from one server to another

When most people start using mastodon, they'll join one of the larger public servers like `mastodon.social`. Over time, though, you may want to start a server for yourself or move to a more specialized server. Here we talk through the best way to move your account.

## Mastodon's migration process

Mastodon does have a built-in process to migrate between servers, which does a lot of the work but has some limitations. Here's a rough overview of what it does currently:

* automatically moves your followers (you don't need to tell them you're changing servers, and they don't need to take any actions)
* sets a redirection message on your old server profile pointing to the new one
* let you copy the list of people that you follow
* preserves your bookmarks, mute, and block lists

<Info>Moving servers does **not** move your existing posts - they'll stay on the original server.</Info>

## Create the new account

The first step is to create the new account on your chosen server. If you're stuck finding a new home, [fedi.garden](https://fedi.garden) and [joinmastodon.org/servers](https://joinmastodon.org/servers) are great resources; we can also [create and manage a mastodon server for you](/mastodon-servers)!

You'll need to use the `Preferences` page on the server you're moving to, so make sure you're using it from the web instead of an app.

1. once on the `Preferences` page, click on the `Account` tab
2. scroll to `Moving from a different account` and click the `create an account alias` link
3. enter the username of your existing account to transfer and click `Create alias`

## Export from the old account

While your new server sets up the alias, go to the `Preferences` page on your **old** server and use it to export some other data.

### CSV exports

1. once on the `Preferences` page, click on the `Import and export` tab
2. click each of the `CSV` links listed in the table to download files (you can skip any files where the total is zero)

### Follower export

1. once on the `Preferences` page, click on the `Account` tab
2. scroll to `Move to a different account` and click `Configure it here`
3. enter the username and password for the **new** server here.

<Tip>This will start moving your followers to your new account. This is a great time to post that you're migrating server, so they know what's happening.</Tip>

## Import old account data

Now that your old and new server are syncing your followers, you can import those CSV files that you downloaded from your old server into your **new** server.

1. again in the **new** server's `Preferences` page, click on the `Import and export` tab
2. go through and import any CSV files you downloaded in the `CSV exports` step above - be sure to choose the import type from the list; it's probably best to use `Merge` instead of `Overwrite`.

## What next

Have a look at your new account to see how things look - you'll also see that your old profile is now grayed out and showing the redirection.

Your old and new server will each have some work to do as part of the move, so it's best not to delete the old account, for a little while at least. The process of moving across your followers might also take some time, so it's best to be patient.

<Info>If you followed hashtags before, they aren't currently covered by the migration or CSV export process. It's worth checking the list you have on the old server and following them once again on the new server.</Info>


# Understand the costs
Source: https://mastodon.site/managed-server/costs

What costs are involved in fully-managed mastodon

<Tip>Signing up for [social.mastodon.site](https://social.mastodon.site) is free for everyone! This page covers the costs if you'd like us to [manage a mastodon server for you](/mastodon-servers).</Tip>

To keep our pricing fair, we try to charge based on your usage. We have a range of different server plans to suit most people.

You can find the current price of our server plans on our [server pricing page](/mastodon-servers).

There are a few costs we add up to create our pricing:

* **Space usage** - the database and media storage costs associated with your server (you can [see these any time in the admin dashboard](/admins/understanding-space-usage))
* **Servers** - larger, busier servers require more computing power
* **Media egress** - the cost of your server sending data out to the internet (when people view attached photos, for example)

## Included by default

We don't charge extra for the following, as it's included in every plan:

* **ElasticSearch** - this allows you to search through posts, users and servers more conveniently (other hosts often charge separately for this)
* **Updates and security** - we automatically upgrade your server to the latest version and manage security updates
* **Email sending** - our no-reply email service automatically manages user emails for you (sign up verification, notifications, etc)
* **Custom domains** - we provide free subdomains and also provide support for you [bringing your own domain name](/managed-server/domain-name)

## Fair usage

In most cases these numbers will be covered within the package that you choose. However, if you often go above what we expect for a server of that size, we can help you work out why, move you to a larger server, or add additional usage based costs to your current server.


# Bring your own domain
Source: https://mastodon.site/managed-server/domain-name

Use a new or existing domain name to set up your server

## Customize your social media presence

A custom domain name is a great way to claim your identity online - and mastodon usernames work just like email addresses.

Whether you want to be `john@smith.com`, `lois.lane@daily.planet` or `sam@london.football`, you can show who you are, who you work for, or what you're into. Your only limit is finding the right domain name.

## Bring your own domain

Although we don't register domain names for you, we give you all of the info you need to point a domain you have registered to your mastodon.site server. A few minutes is all it takes.

What's more, you can continue to use that domain name for email, a blog, website, online store, or redirects.

## Common domain name choices

<Tip>The important thing to note is that once set, a mastodon server cannot change domain name. That would break the names of the users and other mastodon servers wouldn't know where to find them.</Tip>

The good news is there's a lot of flexibility in choosing how to use a domain name with your mastodon server.

The two main options are:

### Domain is just for mastodon (domain root)

If the mastodon server is the only thing you want to host (you're not also hosting a website or blog, etc) your mastodon server can run at `https://example.com`. This is called the domain 'root'. The users will be `user@example.com`.

If you want to use the domain for email too, that's no problem. Setting up a mastodon server this way does not affect email functionality.

### Domain also has a site (subdomain)

If the domain already has, or you plan for it to have, a website or blog or something else people will see in a browser, the mastodon server can run at `https://social.example.com`. In this case, the word 'social' is a `subdomain`. You can use any word here, as long as it's not hosting something else for your domain.

Even with a subdomain mastodon server running at `https://mastodon.business.com`, the users can still be set at the root - `info@business.com` or `the.boss@business.com`.

<Info>Full step-by-step guides are in [our support pages](/support/help-mastodon-dns-domain-names) if you need any help.</Info>


# Migrate your data away
Source: https://mastodon.site/managed-server/migrate-away

We can help you export your server data

<Tip>While we want mastodon.site to be the best choice for hosting a no-hassle mastodon server, we also believe in data portability and that if you want to take your social media elsewhere we're here to help.</Tip>

## What we can migrate

As part of the process of running your mastodon server, we store two main types of data:

* **Postgres database data** - this contains your users, their posts, follows, and all server settings
* **Media data (S3 storage)** - all of the photos, videos and profile pictures uploaded by, or in the timelines of, your server's users

If you decide to leave, we can transfer both of these data stores to you following your requests. Just [contact us](/support/overview).

## What we can't migrate

Mastodon also stores some data in a temporary cache (Redis). Some of this is genuinely cache data and doesn't need migrating anyway; some of it is used to store the current timeline of users (and some in-flight queue data).

Unfortunately we have no way to export this for you, but once you start up a new server this cache data will start to populate again.


# Mastodon server pricing
Source: https://mastodon.site/mastodon-servers

Find the pricing plan that is right for you

At **mastodon.site**, we take the hard work out of running a Mastodon server so that you can just focus on posting content your audience enjoys!

🛟 Any questions? [feel free to reach out to us](/support/overview) - we can help! And don't worry, you can always upgrade a server later if you just want to start out small.

<CardGroup>
  <Card title="Single user (€2.50/month)" icon="user" href="https://buy.stripe.com/00gbJQdKk5uE94AfYY">
    Sign up for a personal mastodon server
  </Card>

  <Card title="Small server (€5/month)" icon="user-group" href="https://buy.stripe.com/9AQaFM9u43mw1C84gh">
    Perfect for a couple of active users
  </Card>

  <Card title="Medium server (€10/month)" icon="people-group" href="https://buy.stripe.com/cN23dkdKkf5e2Gc146">
    Great for social groups, clubs, small businesses, charities and non-profits
  </Card>

  <Card title="Large server (€20/month)" icon="users-medical" href="https://buy.stripe.com/aEU9BIcGgcX62GcfZ1">
    If you need to run a large community or business server
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Tip>Our prices are in Euro (€) but our payment provider, Stripe, accepts all major currencies, debit and credit cards, and **supports Apple Pay and Google Pay**. All subscription payments are handled securely by [Stripe](https://stripe.com), and you can manage it from their payments portal at any time.</Tip>

<Tip>Check out [more details on how we price](/managed-server).</Tip>


# mastodon.site
Source: https://mastodon.site/overview

Who we are and what we do

**mastodon.site** is a free-to-use mastodon server that everyone's welcome to join - you can see us at [social.mastodon.site](https://social.mastodon.site).

We also provide a managed mastodon service where we'll do all of the work in running a server of your own - perfect for businesses, social groups, or just individual users:

<Snippet />

You can always start small and upgrade to a larger server over time if you need to (see [more details on how we price](/managed-server)).


# Forgot admin password
Source: https://mastodon.site/support/forgot-admin-password

What do to if you forgot your admin password

If you've lost access to the admin account of your server, you'll need to [contact us](/support/overview).


# Domain name settings
Source: https://mastodon.site/support/help-mastodon-dns-domain-names

DNS settings to get your mastodon.site server live

At mastodon.site, we don't register or manage domain names for you. If you decide to [bring your own domain name](/managed-server/domain-name), you'll need to update a few settings to get your mastodon server up and running.

When you buy a domain name, you use a company called a `registrar` - they manage the payments and annual renewals. In most cases, the registrar will also set you up with their `nameservers` ; nameservers link your domain name to specific servers on the internet.

<Tip>You'll need to update those nameservers in order to use mastodon.site with a domain name.</Tip>

## Commonly used providers

* [Cloudflare](/support/set-mastodon-cloudflare-dns)

## Using someone else?

If your domain nameserver provider isn't listed above, or you're not sure, you can always [get in touch](/support/overview) and we can help you find out for you and provide full step-by-step instructions.


# Support
Source: https://mastodon.site/support/overview

Getting support when you need it

## Service status

We monitor our services around the clock; you'll find live information on mastodon.site service health on our status page at [https://status.mastodon.site](https://status.mastodon.site). Our customers are covered by our [service level agreement](/support/service-level-agreement).

## Contacting us

You can email us at `support@mastodon.site` or message us on our mastodon server: [https://social.mastodon.site/@info](https://social.mastodon.site/@info)

## Manage your subscription

If you've already got a subscription with us, you can manage it through the [Stripe portal](https://billing.stripe.com/p/login/dR64ij3KJbrLdZm000).

<Info>Please note, you can't downgrade to a single user server through the portal. Please contact us if that's something you'd like to do.</Info>