Tildes

Overview

Tildes.net is a web-based discussion platform focused on high-quality conversations and content sharing. It operates as a nonprofit community site where users discuss links, ask questions, and engage in threaded conversations organized into topical groups. Access is invite-only during its alpha phase, emphasizing user privacy, no advertising, and moderation to prioritize substantive discourse.

Key Features

• Group-based organization - Discussions are categorized into ~group/subgroup structure for topic-specific conversations.
• Invite-only access - Users join via invitations to maintain community quality during alpha testing.
• Threaded comments - Replies form collapsible trees to facilitate focused discussions.
• Link aggregation - Users submit and discuss articles, posts, and media from external sources.
• Voting and slicing - Community voting influences visibility; slicing groups comments by tags.
• No ads or tracking - Ad-free experience with respect for user privacy and no investor influence.
• Customizable feeds - Users filter content by groups, tags, and activity levels.

Pricing

Platforms & Requirements

Tildes runs entirely in web browsers on desktop and mobile devices with no native apps developed by the core team. It is fully responsive for mobile use. No specific minimum requirements beyond a modern browser; third-party apps like Three Cheers provide native iOS and Android experiences.

Integrations & Ecosystem

• RSS feeds for groups and users
• Public API for developers
• Markdown support for posts and comments
• External link embedding
• Email notifications
• OAuth login options

Alternatives

Reputation

Tildes is regarded as a high-quality alternative to mainstream forums, praised for its civil discussions, privacy focus, and lack of ads. Users appreciate the invite-only model for fostering thoughtful engagement but criticize slow growth and limited discoverability. The community values its nonprofit ethos, though some note the alpha phase has persisted for years.