Question 1

Does Gab censor speech?

Accepted Answer

Gab does not censor speech based on viewpoint. The platform's moderation policy uses U.S. law as its baseline: content is removed when it is genuinely illegal under U.S. law, not because it's offensive, controversial, politically unpopular, or contradicts a mainstream narrative. What this means in practice Conservative, Christian, libertarian, and heterodox political views that have been removed from Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube are protected speech on Gab. Criticism of government policy, skepticism of mainstream science narratives, traditional religious views on social issues, and political commentary that major platforms have labeled "misinformation" are all permitted. This is not an abstract policy — Gab was built specifically because its founder was removed from Twitter for political speech, and the platform has grown substantially from each wave of deplatforming on mainstream social media. What Gab does remove Content that is illegal under U.S. law is removed: child sexual abuse material (CSAM), credible threats of violence, material that facilitates specific criminal acts, and content that violates DMCA copyright law. These are objective categories with legal definitions, not editorial judgments. See what is not allowed on Gab for the full list. The philosophical difference Most social platforms claim to support free speech while maintaining broad "community guidelines" that in practice are enforced based on advertiser preferences and ideological alignment. Gab's approach — law as the floor — is a commitment to content-neutral rules that apply regardless of who's speaking or what position they're taking.

Question 2

How does Gab make money?

Accepted Answer

Gab makes money through member subscriptions (GabPRO), Gab Ads, and community investment offerings. It does not sell user data to data brokers. GabPRO subscriptions GabPRO is a major revenue stream. Members who want power-user features and want to financially support the platform pay a monthly or annual subscription at pro.gab.com. This is a direct, transparent model: Gab provides a product, users pay for it. Gab Ads Gab's advertising business runs through grow.gab.com. Free users see promoted posts, display ads, retargeting, and third-party ads. See how to advertise on Gab for advertisers. Community investment Gab has conducted Regulation A+ public investment offerings that raised capital from supporters and community members. These are equity investments, not donations — investors own a stake in Gab AI Inc. Why the business model matters Gab's moderation is based on U.S. law rather than advertiser boycotts — that's a structural reason it can maintain a free speech policy. Platforms like YouTube remove or demonetize content when advertisers complain. Gab runs Gab Ads but doesn't apply viewpoint-based censorship to controversial-but-legal speech.

Question 3

How does Gab protect my privacy?

Accepted Answer

Gab protects privacy in ways that matter to many users — pseudonymity, no phone requirement, VPN-friendly policies — while funding the free tier through advertising. Gab does not sell your personal data to data brokers. Gab's revenue comes from member subscriptions (GabPRO), Gab Ads, and community investment. Advertising on Gab Gab shows ads to free users, including promoted posts and third-party advertising. Gab uses standard ad industry tools — including tracking pixels, ad retargeting, and third-party cookies — to deliver and measure ads. Businesses advertise through grow.gab.com. GabPRO subscribers get an ad-free feed. See does Gab use tracking pixels or retargeting for details. What Gab does collect Like any online platform, Gab collects some data to operate: your account information (email, username), your posts and content, IP addresses for security purposes, and basic usage data for platform performance. This is the minimum required to run a social network. Review Gab's current Privacy Policy at gab.com/about/privacy for the full and authoritative version — policies do update. What Gab doesn't do Sell your personal data to data brokers. Require a real name, phone number, or government ID. Apply viewpoint-based content moderation driven by advertiser boycotts. Additional steps you can take For users who want maximum privacy: use a VPN (Gab allows it), sign up with a separate email address, and use a pseudonymous username. Making your account private restricts who can see your posts. For highly sensitive communications, a dedicated end-to-end encrypted messenger like Signal is a better tool than any social platform.

Question 4

How do I download the Gab app?

Accepted Answer

Gab is available as an installable Progressive Web App (PWA) on iPhone and Android, and as a full-featured website on any browser. It is not in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Android Open gab.com in Chrome on your Android device. Tap the menu (three dots), then "Add to Home screen" or "Install app." The Gab icon will appear on your home screen and open in full-screen mode like a native app. See the full Android install guide. iPhone Open gab.com in Safari on your iPhone. Tap the Share button (the box with an arrow), then "Add to Home Screen." The Gab icon will appear on your home screen and open in full-screen mode like a native app. See the full iPhone install guide. Desktop / web Visit gab.com in any web browser. No install needed. Gab's web interface is full-featured and works well on desktop — most power users operate from the browser rather than a mobile app. Why it's not in the app stores Gab was removed from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The PWA option exists specifically so that app store removal can't cut off access to the platform.

Question 5

Is Gab free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Gab is free to use. Creating an account, browsing the timeline, posting, following other users, joining groups, watching video, and sending direct messages are all part of the free experience. You don't need a credit card or paid subscription to do any of that. What you get for free The free tier includes everything that makes Gab useful as a social platform: a public profile, posts up to 3,000 characters, image and video uploads, groups, feeds, direct messages, Gab Clips, and Gab News. Public content is also viewable without logging in at all — so you can read Gab posts without creating an account. What GabPRO adds GabPRO is an optional paid subscription that adds power-user features on top of the free experience — things like larger upload limits and additional tools. It's also a way to directly support the platform. GabPRO does not unlock basic posting, following, or social features; those are fully available without it. Check pro.gab.com for current GabPRO pricing and the exact feature set, since those can change. Why Gab is free Gab doesn't sell user data to data brokers. Its revenue comes from member subscriptions (GabPRO), Gab Ads, and community investment. The free tier is supported by advertising — upgrade to GabPRO for an ad-free feed.

Question 6

Is Gab like Twitter/X?

Accepted Answer

Gab and Twitter/X are similar in format — short-form posts, follows, hashtags, trending topics, direct messages, and a public timeline — but differ fundamentally in their moderation policies, data practices, and business models. What they share The basic social mechanics are similar. You follow accounts, see their posts in a timeline, post your own content, use hashtags to join conversations, and send direct messages. Gab supports posts up to 3,000 characters — significantly longer than Twitter's historical limits. Both platforms have groups/communities, though they work somewhat differently. Both have video features. Key differences FeatureGabTwitter/X Moderation basisU.S. law only — no viewpoint removalTerms of service — viewpoint-based enforcement Fact-check labelsNoneCommunity Notes AdvertisingGab Ads — promoted posts, display, retargeting, third-party ads; GabPRO is ad-freeYes — behavioral advertising User data / adsNo data broker sales; ads include retargeting; GabPRO ad-freeYes — behavioral advertising model Phone requiredNoOften required for full features Real name requiredNoNo, but phone ties to identity App storePWA onlyAvailable in App Store and Play Store Who switches Most Gab users came from Twitter — either voluntarily after growing frustrated with moderation, or involuntarily after being banned. The functional similarity makes the transition easy; the experience of posting without viewpoint-based censorship risk is the difference that matters to most people who make the move.

Question 7

What is Gab Marketplace?

Accepted Answer

Gab Marketplace is a listing and discovery platform within the Gab ecosystem where businesses post products and services, and buyers find values-aligned sellers. Gab does not facilitate or process marketplace transactions — buyers contact sellers directly to arrange payment and fulfillment. It's the commerce discovery layer of the parallel economy. What it offers Sellers list products across categories — physical goods, digital products, services, and more. Buyers browse, discover, and reach out to businesses that share their values. Gab's social integration means sellers can share listings directly to their timeline followers, combining discovery and community in one platform. Why it exists Amazon, Etsy, and mainstream e-commerce platforms have removed sellers for selling legal goods that conflicted with their ideological guidelines. PayPal, Stripe, and Square have terminated payment processing for legal businesses. Gab Marketplace provides a listing venue where sellers won't be arbitrarily deplatformed for their views — without Gab acting as a payment middleman between buyers and sellers. Getting started See how to sell on Gab Marketplace and how to list your business on Gab for setup guides.

Question 8

What is GabPRO?

Accepted Answer

GabPRO is Gab's optional paid subscription tier. It adds power-user features on top of the fully functional free experience and directly supports the platform's operations. You don't need GabPRO to post, follow, join groups, watch video, send messages, or use any core social feature. What GabPRO adds GabPRO typically includes benefits like larger file upload limits, additional content tools, and priority features. The specific feature set can change — check pro.gab.com for the current, up-to-date list of what's included. Why it exists Gab offers Gab Ads for businesses and doesn't sell user data to data brokers. GabPRO subscriptions are one way users financially support the platform directly. Subscribing adds power-user features and a PRO badge on your profile that signals committed membership. Is it worth it? For most users, the free tier is entirely sufficient. GabPRO makes sense if you're a power user who needs higher upload limits, if you want the PRO badge and status, or if you want to financially support a platform you believe in. See pro.gab.com for current pricing.

Question 9

Who owns Gab?

Accepted Answer

Gab is owned by Gab AI Inc., a private company. Andrew Torba, Gab's founder, is the CEO and controlling owner. Gab AI Inc. is not publicly traded and is not backed by venture capital — a deliberate choice that keeps the platform independent of institutional investors who might pressure it to change its free speech policies. Why private ownership matters Most major social platforms are funded by venture capital or are publicly traded — structures that create accountability to investors and shareholders who may have very different values than the platform's founding mission. VC firms that funded Twitter, Facebook, and Snap are generally aligned with Silicon Valley's political and ideological mainstream. Gab's private, founder-led structure means its content policies aren't subject to investor pressure. Gab has conducted community investment offerings (Regulation A+ offerings) that allow ordinary supporters to invest alongside the company — extending community ownership beyond the founding team without ceding control to institutional investors. Gab's investor base The company's investors are primarily its own user community — people who use the platform and believe in its mission — rather than institutional venture capital. This alignment between ownership and user base is uncommon in tech and is intentional.

Question 10

Why was Gab banned by payment processors and hosts?

Accepted Answer

In October 2018, Gab was simultaneously dropped by its hosting provider, its domain registrar, its payment processors, and both major app stores. Political opponents used the moment to execute a coordinated deplatforming campaign that took Gab offline for several days — one of the most significant deplatforming events in the history of the internet. What happened Within 48 hours, PayPal, Stripe, and other payment processors terminated Gab's merchant accounts. GoDaddy removed the domain registration. Joyent, the hosting provider, suspended service. Apple and Google had already removed the app from their stores in prior years (Google in 2017). The combination was an attempt to take the platform permanently offline. Gab cooperated fully with law enforcement and its position — consistent with Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act — is that a platform is not legally responsible for the actions of its users based on their speech on the platform. The response Rather than complying with deplatforming pressure and changing its moderation policies, Gab rebuilt its infrastructure to eliminate every chokepoint that had been used against it. New hosting, new payment infrastructure, new domain configuration — all chosen specifically to avoid the single points of failure that made the 2018 campaign so effective. Gab came back online within days and has operated continuously since.

Frequently Asked Questions

Content & moderation

Investment

Privacy & security

App & access

Getting started

Comparisons

Business & marketplace

Features

Brand & trust

Resilience

Join the conversation on Gab