Bluesky-Based Instagram Alternative Flashes Starts Beta Testing

If you’re getting tired of Instagram, an Instagram alternative known as Flashes built on X rival Bluesky is now available in beta.

Flashes supports posts of up to four images at a time, as well as videos of up to one minute in length. Like Instagram, it will support direct messages, and users will be able to post images on Flashes and Bluesky at the same time.

The app was announced earlier this month and uses the same basic technical framework as Bluesky, the AT Protocol—according to News—which first reported the launch. However, though closely integrated, it was developed by third-party Berlin-based developer Sebastian Vogelsang, rather than Bluesky’s core team.

Vogelsang told News he plans to roll out additional features in the future, including push notifications, multiple accounts, bookmarks, and eventually image editing options and support for Stories. There are several important differences from Instagram; however, rather than working entirely as a separate app, Flashes will filter your Bluesky newsfeed, leaving only photos and videos.

It’s currently ready for download on iOS using Apple’s TestFlight developer testing platform. Though using the app might not be all smooth sailing, at least initially, the developer posted on Bluesky about being in communication with Apple’s engineering team about solving technical issues.

The new app comes as Bluesky hit yet another milestone in terms of expanding its user base, as users continue to flee from X amid numerous controversies. The platform surpassed over 30 million users on Feb. 5, according to one third-party tracker, after expanding its user base nine times over in 2024. It’s now up to 31 million at the time of writing.

Bluesky also announced another new feature earlier this week, with an executive telling News it will now allow users to limit replies purely to users they follow and to make this their default setting if they wish.

About Will McCurdy

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I’m a reporter covering weekend news. Before joining PCMag in 2024, I picked up bylines in BBC News, The Guardian, The Times of London, The Daily Beast, Vice, Slate, Fast Company, The Evening Standard, The i, TechRadar, and Decrypt Media.

I’ve been a PC gamer since you had to install games from multiple CD-ROMs by hand. As a reporter, I’m passionate about the intersection of tech and human lives. I’ve covered everything from crypto scandals to the art world, as well as conspiracy theories, UK politics, and Russia and foreign affairs.

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