# Mastodon API

> Mastodon returns public profiles and posts as a workflow and API.

Get profile returns public account details from a handle or profile link.

- Page: https://fous.com/tools/mastodon
- Handle: `@mastodon`
- Category: [Social](https://fous.com/tools/category/social)
- Source website: https://mastodon.social
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026

## Methods

### Get profile

Operation `get_profile`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

Get a public Mastodon profile by handle or profile link, including its bio, counts, dates and profile fields. Major servers are read directly; other servers require the account to be known to mastodon.social, and their home-server account ID is unavailable.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `account` | string | yes | `"https://fosstodon.org/@kev"` | Full handle, handle on mastodon.social, or profile link, for example Gargron@mastodon.social. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "account"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "account": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Full handle, handle on mastodon.social, or profile link, for example Gargron@mastodon.social.",
      "examples": [
        "https://fosstodon.org/@kev",
        "Gargron@mastodon.social",
        "Mastodon"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "account": "https://fosstodon.org/@kev"
    },
    {
      "account": "Gargron@mastodon.social"
    },
    {
      "account": "Mastodon"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `bio` | string or null | `"Used to help run Fosstodon. These days, I just hang out here.\nI work in InfoSec and live with two kids, one wife, two ` | Bio in plain text. |
| `posts` | integer or null | `1322` | Number of posts. |
| `handle` | string | `"kev@fosstodon.org"` | Full account handle with server. |
| `is_bot` | boolean or null | `false` | Whether the account is marked as a bot. |
| `followers` | integer or null | `12990` | Follower count. |
| `following` | integer or null | `141` | Following count. |
| `account_id` | string or null | `"1"` | Account ID on the home server. |
| `avatar_url` | string or null | `"https://cdn.fosstodon.org/accounts/avatars/000/000/001/original/8f82f81f058d509e.png"` | Avatar image link. |
| `joined_date` | string or null | `"2017-08-01"` | Date the account joined its home server, YYYY-MM-DD. |
| `profile_url` | string | `"https://fosstodon.org/@kev"` | Canonical profile link. |
| `display_name` | string or null | `"Kev Quirk"` | The profile display name. |
| `profile_fields` | array |  | Profile labels and values in plain text. |
| `profile_fields[].label` | string | `"Blog"` |  |
| `profile_fields[].value` | string | `"https://kevquirk.com"` |  |
| `last_active_date` | string or null | `"2026-09-28"` | Date of the account’s last public post, YYYY-MM-DD, when available. |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "account": "https://fosstodon.org/@kev"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "bio": "Used to help run Fosstodon. These days, I just hang out here.\nI work in InfoSec and live with two kids, one wife, two dogs, a blind cat, a flock of 25 chickens, 8 goats, and more fish than I can count…",
  "posts": 1322,
  "handle": "kev@fosstodon.org",
  "is_bot": false,
  "followers": 12990,
  "following": 141,
  "account_id": "1",
  "avatar_url": "https://cdn.fosstodon.org/accounts/avatars/000/000/001/original/8f82f81f058d509e.png",
  "joined_date": "2017-08-01",
  "profile_url": "https://fosstodon.org/@kev",
  "display_name": "Kev Quirk",
  "profile_fields": [
    {
      "label": "Blog",
      "value": "https://kevquirk.com"
    },
    {
      "label": "Pure Commons",
      "value": "https://purecommons.org"
    }
  ],
  "last_active_date": "2026-09-28"
}
```

### List hashtag posts

Operation `list_hashtag_posts`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

List the latest public posts for a hashtag on any Mastodon server, newest first. Only posts visible to the selected server are included; some servers require login for public timelines.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `server` | string | no | `"mastodon.social"` | Mastodon server to read, such as fosstodon.org. Defaults to mastodon.social. |
| `hashtag` | string | yes | `"climate"` | Hashtag, with or without #, such as climate. |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `55` | Maximum posts to return, such as 20; at most 100. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "hashtag"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "server": {
      "type": "string",
      "default": "mastodon.social",
      "description": "Mastodon server to read, such as fosstodon.org. Defaults to mastodon.social.",
      "examples": [
        "mastodon.social",
        "fosstodon.org"
      ]
    },
    "hashtag": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "description": "Hashtag, with or without #, such as climate.",
      "examples": [
        "climate",
        "photography",
        "linux"
      ]
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 20,
      "maximum": 100,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum posts to return, such as 20; at most 100.",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        55,
        5,
        2
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "hashtag": "climate"
    },
    {
      "server": "mastodon.social",
      "hashtag": "photography",
      "max_results": 55
    },
    {
      "server": "fosstodon.org",
      "hashtag": "linux",
      "max_results": 5
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `posts` | array |  | Latest public posts for the hashtag, newest first. |
| `posts[].text` | string | `"New Data for Africa’s Changing Climate: Mapping Risks, Readiness and Policy Action\nhttps://gggi.org/report/new-data-fo` | Post text without markup. |
| `posts[].boosts` | integer | `0` | Number of boosts. |
| `posts[].post_id` | string | `"117352346170217270"` | Post ID on the selected server. |
| `posts[].replies` | integer | `0` | Number of replies. |
| `posts[].post_link` | string or null | `"https://scicomm.xyz/@dripping1911/117352346134781603"` | Page link for this post. |
| `posts[].posted_at` | string | `"2026-09-29T04:04:55Z"` | Post time in UTC. |
| `posts[].favourites` | integer | `0` | Number of favourites. |
| `posts[].image_links` | array |  | Links to attached images. |
| `posts[].author_handle` | string | `"@dripping1911@scicomm.xyz"` | Author handle including server. |
| `posts[].author_display_name` | string | `"Marc Kodack"` | Author display name. |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "hashtag": "climate"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "posts": [
    {
      "text": "New Data for Africa’s Changing Climate: Mapping Risks, Readiness and Policy Action\nhttps://gggi.org/report/new-data-for-africa-changing-climate/\n#Climate, #ClimateChange",
      "boosts": 0,
      "post_id": "117352346170217270",
      "replies": 0,
      "post_link": "https://scicomm.xyz/@dripping1911/117352346134781603",
      "posted_at": "2026-09-29T04:04:55Z",
      "favourites": 0,
      "image_links": [],
      "author_handle": "@dripping1911@scicomm.xyz",
      "author_display_name": "Marc Kodack"
    },
    {
      "text": "Measuring #climate Outcomes at the Project level.\nThe Conversation has some news about an open source project built by Universities in the United Kingdom and Australia that measures the effects an ind…",
      "boosts": 3,
      "post_id": "117352301712921488",
      "replies": 0,
      "post_link": "https://theblower.au/@PeteGozz/117352301611954970",
      "posted_at": "2026-09-29T03:53:36Z",
      "favourites": 0,
      "image_links": [],
      "author_handle": "@PeteGozz@theblower.au",
      "author_display_name": "Another Pete"
    },
    {
      "text": "Beyond indicators. Unpacking the greening agriculture agenda in the Near East and North Africa region.\nhttps://openknowledge.fao.org/items/0a19a07c-77d9-488f-8c06-8762a665859c\n#Climate, #ClimateChange",
      "boosts": 0,
      "post_id": "117352292364503775",
      "replies": 0,
      "post_link": "https://scicomm.xyz/@dripping1911/117352292326787394",
      "posted_at": "2026-09-29T03:51:14Z",
      "favourites": 0,
      "image_links": [],
      "author_handle": "@dripping1911@scicomm.xyz",
      "author_display_name": "Marc Kodack"
    }
  ]
}
```

### List recent posts

Operation `list_recent_posts`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

List an account's latest public posts across Mastodon servers, newest first. Includes optional replies and boosts; private and unlisted posts are not shown.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `account` | string | yes | `"https://mastodon.online/@Gargron"` | Full account handle including server, or a profile link, such as Gargron@mastodon.social. |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `7` | Maximum number of posts to return, for example 20. |
| `include_boosts` | boolean | no | `true` | Include boosts, for example true. |
| `include_replies` | boolean | no | `true` | Include replies, for example true. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "account"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "account": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Full account handle including server, or a profile link, such as Gargron@mastodon.social.",
      "examples": [
        "https://mastodon.online/@Gargron",
        "Gargron@mastodon.social",
        "Mastodon@mastodon.social"
      ]
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 20,
      "maximum": 100,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum number of posts to return, for example 20.",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        7,
        45,
        5
      ]
    },
    "include_boosts": {
      "type": "boolean",
      "default": false,
      "description": "Include boosts, for example true.",
      "examples": [
        true
      ]
    },
    "include_replies": {
      "type": "boolean",
      "default": false,
      "description": "Include replies, for example true.",
      "examples": [
        true
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "account": "https://mastodon.online/@Gargron",
      "max_results": 7,
      "include_boosts": true,
      "include_replies": true
    },
    {
      "account": "Gargron@mastodon.social"
    },
    {
      "account": "Mastodon@mastodon.social",
      "max_results": 45
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `posts` | array |  |  |
| `posts[].text` | string | `"@shoq @gnomon It is more intense. I don't have much of a choice though!"` |  |
| `posts[].boosts` | integer | `0` |  |
| `posts[].post_id` | string | `"109251632999281181"` |  |
| `posts[].replies` | integer | `2` |  |
| `posts[].is_boost` | boolean | `false` |  |
| `posts[].post_link` | string | `"https://mastodon.online/@Gargron/109251632999281181"` |  |
| `posts[].posted_at` | string | `"2022-10-29T12:47:02Z"` |  |
| `posts[].favourites` | integer | `0` |  |
| `posts[].image_links` | array |  |  |
| `posts[].content_warning` | string or null |  |  |
| `posts[].original_author` | string or null | `"stux@mstdn.social"` |  |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "account": "https://mastodon.online/@Gargron",
  "max_results": 7,
  "include_boosts": true,
  "include_replies": true
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "posts": [
    {
      "text": "@shoq @gnomon It is more intense. I don't have much of a choice though!",
      "boosts": 0,
      "post_id": "109251632999281181",
      "replies": 2,
      "is_boost": false,
      "post_link": "https://mastodon.online/@Gargron/109251632999281181",
      "posted_at": "2022-10-29T12:47:02Z",
      "favourites": 0,
      "image_links": [],
      "content_warning": null,
      "original_author": null
    },
    {
      "text": "This banana messed with the wrong #cat",
      "boosts": 11,
      "post_id": "108634533212714839",
      "replies": 3,
      "is_boost": true,
      "post_link": "https://mastodon.online/users/Gargron/statuses/108634533212714839/activity",
      "posted_at": "2022-07-12T13:10:27Z",
      "favourites": 6,
      "image_links": [],
      "content_warning": null,
      "original_author": "stux@mstdn.social"
    },
    {
      "text": "Sm0ll but angry",
      "boosts": 16,
      "post_id": "108628583720421744",
      "replies": 3,
      "is_boost": true,
      "post_link": "https://mastodon.online/users/Gargron/statuses/108628583720421744/activity",
      "posted_at": "2022-07-11T11:57:25Z",
      "favourites": 9,
      "image_links": [],
      "content_warning": null,
      "original_author": "stux@mstdn.social"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Quick start

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with a Fous API key. To create one, open Developers at the bottom of Fous Studio, turn on Developer mode, then go to API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys). Change the values in `input` to run the same tool on new data.

```bash
curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 180 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@mastodon",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_profile",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "account": "https://fosstodon.org/@kev"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
import json
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = "YOUR_API_KEY"

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@mastodon\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"get_profile\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"account\": \"https://fosstodon.org/@kev\"\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=180) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
const apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(180_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@mastodon",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_profile",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "account": "https://fosstodon.org/@kev"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

## Use from an AI assistant

Connect this tool to Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and any MCP client as its own MCP server. Each method is a typed tool whose arguments are the method’s input.

- Server URL: `https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/mastodon`
- Authorization: `Authorization: Bearer <Fous API key>`

**Tools**

- `get_profile`: Get profile. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `list_hashtag_posts`: List hashtag posts. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `list_recent_posts`: List recent posts. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `fous_get_run`: the result of a run that was still going, by its `request_id`. Free.

Claude Code:

```bash
claude mcp add --scope user --transport http fous-mastodon https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/mastodon --header "Authorization: Bearer ${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY to your Fous API key}"
```

To give the assistant every tool, connect `https://api.fous.com/mcp`: it finds one with `fous_search_tools` and runs it with `fous_run_tool`. Setup for other clients: https://fous.com/llms-full.txt.

## Use cases

- Review public profile details and follower counts
- Track an account’s latest public posts
- Monitor public posts for a hashtag
- Compare post engagement counts

## FAQ

### Can I run it with my own inputs?

Yes. Change the inputs in Studio and press Run, or send new inputs from your code, or ask a connected AI assistant.

### Can I call this Mastodon tool as an API?

Yes. Send a POST request to /v1/query with your Fous API key and the inputs, and get JSON back.

### How much does it cost?

Each completed run costs 1 credit. Failed runs without a completed receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted. With pay as you go, a credit costs 1¢. Monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a Mastodon account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from mastodon.social when you run it. Some results are reused for up to 24 hours, and results that use your account or key are never reused. It was last verified on Sep 29, 2026.

### What are an account’s latest public posts?

List recent posts returns an account’s latest public posts, newest first. Replies and boosts can be included.

### What public posts use a hashtag?

List hashtag posts returns the latest public posts for a hashtag, newest first, from the selected server.

### What details are on a public profile?

Get profile returns details such as the bio, post and follower counts, dates, and profile fields.

## Related

- [Instagram API](https://fous.com/tools/instagram.md): Instagram provides public photos, videos, profiles, exact headline counts, bio links, and profile pictures, plus recent public posts and reels; some profiles or posts require login, and view counts may be unavailable.
- [Bluesky API](https://fous.com/tools/bluesky.md): Bluesky provides public profile details and latest posts, plus searches of up to 100 matching public posts; search results may lag behind new posts.
- [Threads API](https://fous.com/tools/threads.md): Threads provides public profiles and posts, including recent posts, engagement and replies; private or login-only content is excluded, and replies may be limited to 10.
- [X API](https://fous.com/tools/x.md): X returns public profile details and public posts with author, media, and engagement; deleted, protected, or unavailable posts cannot be retrieved.
- [Telegram API](https://fous.com/tools/telegram.md): Telegram provides public channel details and the latest posts visible in public previews, with media and view totals that may be rounded or approximate.
- [Tumblr API](https://fous.com/tools/tumblr.md): Tumblr blogs and posts.
- [Substack API](https://fous.com/tools/substack.md): Substack returns public newsletters and recent public post details or text; paid posts expose previews or metadata, and some custom-domain newsletters may be unavailable.
- [TikTok API](https://fous.com/tools/tiktok.md): TikTok returns public profiles and totals, recent pinned-first videos, and public video details and engagement; private content unavailable, and feeds may be incomplete or empty.
- [All Social tools](https://fous.com/tools/category/social)