What is Ice Cubes?
Ice Cubes is an open-source Mastodon client built entirely in SwiftUI. You can connect to any Mastodon instance, browse your timeline, interact with other users, and post updates and media. It is multiplatform — iOS, macOS, iPadOS and visionOS — with a dedicated sidebar UI on macOS and iPadOS. Two features are specific to it: tag groups, custom timelines made from several tags, and remote local timelines, which browse another instance's public timeline. It is licensed AGPL-3.0.
Verified product facts
- Type
- Mastodon clientEditorially reviewed
- Platform
- macOS
- Pricing
- Open sourceDeveloper-stated
- Open source
- Yes
- Relationship to Nuanyue
- Third-party product — not published by NuanyueEditorially reviewed
- Licence
- AGPL-3.0
- Current version
- 2.1.6Developer-stated
- Official website
- apps.apple.com/us/app/ice-cubes-for-mastodon/id6444915884
Last updated . Facts marked developer-stated come from the developer and are not independently confirmed; editorially reviewed marks a Nuanyue judgement.
Key features
What Ice Cubes does at a glance.
Connect to any Mastodon instance
Tag groups
Custom timelines made of several tags, unique to Ice Cubes
Remote local timelines
Browse another instance's public timeline
Relies
On Mastodon streaming events for live posts, and editing and deleting your own
Home timeline cached
With Bodega, so position and unread count survive a restart
iCloud sync of tag groups, remote timelines and drafts
What you can use Ice Cubes for
- Following several topics through tag groups instead of one flat timeline
- Browsing another instance's public timeline without joining it
Who is Ice Cubes for?
- Mastodon users who follow enough tags that a single timeline is not enough
- People who want an open-source SwiftUI client on Mac, iPhone, iPad and Vision Pro
Who is Ice Cubes not for?
- Users on macOS 10.15 or earlier — the app targets current Apple platforms
Strengths and trade-offs
What Ice Cubes does well, and what to weigh before choosing it. Points marked developer-stated come from the developer’s own material and have not been independently confirmed.
Strengths
- Open source under AGPL-3.0, built entirely in SwiftUI, and free.
- Tag groups are custom timelines made from multiple tags, which the project describes as unique to Ice Cubes.
- Remote local timelines browse the public timeline of another instance, which the project also describes as an Ice Cubes-only feature.
- The home timeline is cached with the Bodega library, so position and unread count survive a restart or an account switch.
Trade-offs
- It covers Mastodon only; a Misskey or Bluesky account needs a different client.Editorially reviewed
- It is an iOS-first app with a Mac build, so the desktop interface is the sidebar layout rather than a redesigned Mac one.Editorially reviewed
- Timeline sync is semi-automatic — your position is sent to the Mastodon marker API, which the instance has to support.
What it does
Ice Cubes is a Mastodon client written entirely in SwiftUI, running on iOS, macOS, iPadOS and visionOS. On the Mac and iPad it gets a dedicated sidebar layout rather than a stretched phone screen.
Two features set it apart, and the project is specific that both are its own. Tag groups build a custom timeline out of several tags at once, which matters if you follow more topics than a single home timeline can hold. Remote local timelines let you read another instance’s public timeline without joining it, which is the easiest way to see what a different community is actually talking about.
Where it fits
Around those, it behaves the way a modern client should. It uses Mastodon’s streaming events to show new posts live and to let you edit and delete your own without a reload. The home timeline is cached through the Bodega library, so when you switch accounts or relaunch the app, your cached timeline and your position come back, and new posts arrive with an unread counter. Tag groups, remote timelines and drafts sync through iCloud.
It is a Mastodon client only — a Misskey or Bluesky account needs something else. And it is iOS-first with a Mac build, so the desktop experience is the sidebar layout rather than a redesigned Mac interface. Timeline sync is semi-automatic: your position goes to Mastodon’s marker API, which the instance has to support.
Questions about Ice Cubes
Which platforms does Ice Cubes run on?
iOS, macOS, iPadOS and visionOS, with a dedicated sidebar UI on macOS and iPadOS.
What is a tag group?
A custom timeline made of several tags. The project describes it as a feature unique to Ice Cubes.
Is Ice Cubes free?
Yes. It is open source under the AGPL-3.0 licence and free on the App Store.
Does it work with any Mastodon instance?
Yes. The project states you can connect to any Mastodon instance, browse your timeline and post updates and media.
Alternatives to Ice Cubes
Apps that could replace this one — the same job, a different trade-off.
Mastodon
Your self-hosted, globally interconnected microblogging community
Both are Mac clients for Mastodon. The official app is the reference client; Ice Cubes is an open-source SwiftUI alternative with tag groups.
Similar apps
Related in purpose, but not a straight swap.
Elytra
A Simple & Private RSS Feed Reader with native rendering for macOS & iOS.
Both are native macOS and iOS clients built around one timeline you read — Elytra for RSS, Ice Cubes for Mastodon.
Feedy
An elegant and lightweight RSS client and news reader for your Mac.
Both are lightweight reading clients with a Mac build. Feedy is an RSS and news reader; Ice Cubes reads a Mastodon timeline.
Links
Sources
Facts on this page are checked against the sources below. Last updated .
