How to Get a Verified Link on Mastodon (rel=me, 2026)

May 2, 2026·By UniLink Team

TL;DR:

Mastodon "verifies" website ownership via rel="me" back-link ??” add a link from your website to your Mastodon profile, with rel="me" attribute.
Mastodon detects the back-link and shows a green checkmark next to your bio URL.
This is decentralised verification ??” no central authority approves you.

How Mastodon Verification Works

Unlike X (paid checkmark) or LinkedIn (no public verification), Mastodon uses an open, decentralised method:

You add a link on your website to your Mastodon profile, with rel="me" attribute.
Mastodon's server fetches your website, detects the rel="me" link.
Confirms the website owner controls the Mastodon account (and vice versa).
Green checkmark appears next to your bio URL.

Step-by-Step

1 In your Mastodon profile metadata, add your website URL (e.g., https://yoursite.com).

2 On your website, add this HTML in <head> or somewhere visible:

<link rel="me" href="https://mastodon.social/@yourusername">

Or as a visible link in your site footer:

<a rel="me" href="https://mastodon.social/@yourusername">Mastodon</a>

3 Save your website changes.

4 Return to Mastodon profile ?†’ save metadata.

5 Mastodon verifies within seconds (fetches your site, detects rel="me"). Green checkmark appears.

Why This System Works

Decentralised. No central authority decides who's verified.
Open standard. Based on web standards, not proprietary.
Mutual proof. Both directions need to confirm (Mastodon ?†’ website, website ?†’ Mastodon).
Free. No payment for verification.

What Verification Doesn't Mean

Doesn't confirm your real identity (just that you control both the website and Mastodon account).
Doesn't grant any algorithmic boost (Mastodon doesn't use one in same way as X).
Doesn't help SEO (Mastodon links are nofollow).

Multi-Site Verification

You can verify multiple websites ??” each metadata slot can be verified independently. Each requires its own rel="me" back-link.

Common Issues

Problem	Fix
Verification not happening	Check rel="me" link is on your site, accessible publicly
Verification disappeared	Site went down or rel="me" link removed
Multiple Mastodon accounts	Each needs separate rel="me" back-link from a different page
Site behind login wall	Mastodon needs public access to detect rel="me"

For Bio Link Tools

If you use UniLink / Linktree / Beacons, some support adding rel="me" links to verify your Mastodon. Check tool's docs.

FAQ

What is a Mastodon verified link?

A link in your bio with green checkmark, verified via rel="me" back-link from your website.

Is Mastodon verification free?

Yes ??” fully free. No paid tier.

Why is Mastodon verification different?

Open, decentralised, web-standard-based. No central authority.

Does verification help SEO?

No ??” Mastodon links are nofollow. Verification is for trust, not authority.

Can I verify multiple websites?

Yes ??” each metadata slot can be verified independently with its own rel="me" link.

Key Takeaways

Verify via rel="me" back-link from your website to Mastodon profile.
Free, decentralised, instant.
Green checkmark next to verified URL.
Multi-site verification supported.

Verified bio link for Mastodon

UniLink supports rel="me" for Mastodon verification ??” paste in metadata + add link from your UniLink page back.

Try UniLink free ?†’