Periwinkle is making self-hosted social media on Bluesky’s AT Protocol even easier

Source: TechCrunch

Periwinkle, a Berlin‑based startup, offers a way to run social media accounts on your own domain using the AT Protocol—the same open‑source technology that powers Bluesky. By providing managed Personal Data Server (PDS) infrastructure, Periwinkle lets users host their posts, follows, and profiles without having to set up and maintain their own server.

How Periwinkle Works

Built on the AT Protocol, Periwinkle supplies domains for purchase and stores user data on a personal data server that is part of the protocol’s federation layer. The service handles updates, backups, and monitoring, allowing non‑technical users to focus on posting rather than server administration.

“We’ll be the first‑to‑market fully managed PDS service; there is nobody else that is doing this right now,” says founder Charles Blumenthal. (Other options such as Blacksky target developers building self‑governable communities.)

Image Credit: Periwinkle

The model is comparable to choosing between a hosted WordPress.com blog, a self‑hosted WordPress.org installation, or a managed WordPress hosting service—only this time it’s for decentralized social media.

Blumenthal, a former software engineer at McKinsey, noted that many people still don’t understand the AT Protocol and its benefits. He argues that giving users control over their data and communication channels is essential, especially as platforms like Bluesky grow to over 43 million registered users (source).

Image Credit: Periwinkle

Pricing Plans

Image Credit: Periwinkle

Future Roadmap

Periwinkle plans to add tools such as automated post deletions, archiving utilities, and other features that give users finer control over their social media presence. The service is currently self‑funded, with Blumenthal seeking additional engineering and marketing talent as the company scales.