Distributed social network projects generally develop software, protocols, or both.
Project Name | Features | Software Type | Programming Language | License | Protocols | Privacy Support (name specific technologies used) | Federation (with other applications or services) | Instances | Maturity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AT Protocol [1] | microblogging | server | TypeScript [2] | Dual ( MIT, Apache 2.0) | AT Protocol | Yes (E2EE) | The protocol supports federation, Bluesky has it disabled | Primarily Bluesky | beta |
diaspora* | Status messages, blogging, photo sharing, privacy enhanced | server [3] | Ruby | AGPLv3 | Diaspora, [4] Salmon [5] | Yes, through "aspects" | Yes, own federation protocol [6] | 232 'nodes/pods' listed on The-Federation.info [7] | stable 0.7.12.0 [8] |
Friendica [9] | Rich profiles, networking groups, community/group/celebrity pages, richtext status (not specifically length limited), photo albums, YouTube share, location, like/dislike, multiple profiles w/assignment to specific friends, single sign on to post directly to friend's profiles on co-operating systems. Communications encryption. Fans and one-way relationships. Local and global directory services. Ability to restrict connection endpoints. | server [10] | PHP | AGPLv3 [11] | ActivityPub, OStatus, [12] Diaspora, OpenID, DFRN, [13] | extensive | Friendica, Diaspora, GNU-Social, Mastodon, email, RSS feeds via native protocol support. Pump.io, Libertree, Twitter, Wordpress and Tumblr via connectors and/or third party services. | more than 113 servers according to external statistics, [14] more than 300 servers in total according to internal federation statistics. | stable |
GNU social [15] | microblogging | server [16] (formerly known as StatusNet) | PHP | AGPLv3 | OStatus, [17] OpenID, partial Diaspora support | ? | Yes | Around 200 servers [18] | stable [19] |
Hubzilla | decentralised identity and community platform, also provides blogs, rich social networking, cloud storage and internet-scale access control/privacy | server | PHP, Javascript | MIT | ActivityPub, [20] diaspora, [20] OStatus, [20] Zot, [21] Zot6 [22] | Extensive | via external connectors | 279 [23] | stable |
Mastodon | microblogging | server | Ruby on Rails, React.js | AGPLv3 | ActivityPub | Yes | Yes | Around 18,400 servers [24] | stable |
Minds | Free, open source, decentralized, and based on a foundation of transparency and privacy | server, [25] front, [26] mobile app [27] | PHP [25] [28] | AGPLv3 [29] | OpenSSL, RabbitMQ [30] | Yes [31] | Yes [32] | [1] | beta |
Misskey [33] [34] | Microblogging social-network | server, web-client | Node.js, Typescript / JavaScript | AGPLv3 | ActivityPub | Yes | Yes, nodes supporting ActivityPub | More than 700 instances [35] [36] | stable |
Movim | XMPP client + Microblogging | server and webclient | PHP | AGPLv3 | XMPP | Yes | XMPP | 16 'pods' [37] | stable |
Mobilizon | Events & Communities (similar to Meetup.com), Groups, shared folders, Account Not Required (to search events), Multiple Profiles, anti-addiction-by-design (Saving Your Attention {"…not a social media, nor a hobby: it is a tool…"})} | Server and…? [38] | Phoenix (web framework) / Elixir (programming language), and Vue.js for UI/front-end | AGPLv3 | ActivityPub [39] | Yes (but needs to be looked up to add here) | ActivityPub | 83 'instances' listed on the site [40] | stable 3.1.3 [41] |
Nostr | Open protocol that enables global, decentralized, and censorship-resistant social media. | Servers (relays) and clients | Multiple implementations | Public Domain | Nostr | Yes | ActivityPub & Minds | Hundreds of relays | stable |
Peergos [42] | P2P storage, social network, and application protocol | p2p, server, web-client | Java, Go, Javascript | AGPLv3 | libp2p, bitswap | Yes (E2EE) | Yes, via libp2p | stable | |
Pleroma [43] | Microblogging social-network | server, web-client | Elixir (programming language) | AGPLv3 | OStatus, ActivityPub, Gopher [44] | Yes | Yes, nodes supporting ActivityPub and OStatus (except StatusNet for now) | Over 500 instances [45] | stable |
Plume [46] | Federated blogging engine | server, web-client | Rust (programming language) | AGPLv3 | ActivityPub | Yes | Yes, nodes supporting ActivityPub | Around 12 instances [47] | stable/beta (0.2.0 not released yet) |
pump.io | stream server supporting social networking capabilities | server, clients | Node.js, JavaScript | Apache 2.0 | pump.io API [48] | Yes | Yes | 72, [49] including Identi.ca | stable |
Retroshare | Private messaging and VoIP, group chats, distributed forums, file transfers | client-server, [50] web interface | Qt, C++ | Various Open Source licenses (with some exceptions) [51] | DHT, GPG, OpenSSL | Yes | Just with apps based on the same API | stable | |
Libervia (formerly "Salut à Toi") [52] [53] | multi-frontends, microblogging, group microblogging, file sharing, games, XMPP client | XMPP client (multi-frontends), web server, SMTP/IMAP server | Python, C++ | AGPL | XMPP, and ActivityPub in beta as of 2022 [update]. [54] | through XMPP groups, presence authorisation | XMPP native federation | demo [55] | alpha |
Secure Scuttlebutt | social networking, messaging, games, development tools | client-server, [56] applications [57] | JavaScript (reference implementation) | Various FLOSS licenses | Secret Handshake, [58] Scuttlebutt Protocol [59] | End-to-end encryption for private messages. | Peer-to-peer network. Limited outside syndication. | stable | |
Socialhome [60] | Microblogging, blogging, rich-text federated profiles, home page builder. | Server | Python, JavaScript | AGPL | Diaspora, ActivityPub | Yes | Socialhome.network
Other servers findable from The-Federation.info |
alpha | |
Sone [61] | microblogging, media library, decentralized spam protection | P2P client, web interface | Java, Javascript | GPL | Freenet | Yes, Multiple Anonymous Identities, private messages via the Freemail plugin with Forward secrecy | Partial, Sone messages can be read from the FMS Forum system | beta | |
twtxt [62] | microblogging | Terminal | Python (reference implementation) | MIT (reference implementation) | HTTP(S), REST | No | ? | Approximately 100 [63] | alpha |
Project Name | Features | Software Type | Programming Language | License | Protocols | Privacy Support | Federation (with other applications or services) | Instances | Maturity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6d [64] (Dead Project) | Blog, media library, addressbook, themeable, private messaging | server [65] | PHP | MIT | HTTP + REST, microformats [66] | Addressbook to send posts to either individuals or groups. | not yet | demo
[67] 5 total |
alpha |
Aether | Peer-to-peer, ephemeral, self-governing public communities with auditable and democratic moderation. [68] | P2P client | Go, JavaScript [69] | AGPLv3 [70] | Mim [71] | Yes | stable, no commit or post since 2021 | ||
Appleseed [72] | Photos, Journals, Messaging, Groups, Privacy controls, Status Updates, Newsfeeds | server [73] | PHP | GPLv2 | QuickSocial [74] | Friend circles used to categorize friends and restrict/allow access | Internally, others easily added (plugin architecture) | Appleseed [75] Approximately 120 total | cancelled project |
Buddycloud [76] [77] | Personal and topic channels, Buddycloud directory, channel search, channel recommender, media server, friend-finder, mobile and email push service, location, messaging | server, [78] client [79] | JavaScript, NodeJS, Java | Apache 2.0 | XMPP, [77] Buddycloud Protocol, [80] Atom, [81] Activity Streams, [82] Location Query[ clarification needed] | Yes | Yes | Domains running buddycloud: 90 [83] | last update 2015 |
Cunity [84] | Friends, Photo Album, Filesharing, Messaging, Pinboard, Newsfeed, Memberlist, Forum, Connecting Cunities | server, [84] client [84] | PHP, Javascript, AJAX, JQuery | AGPLv3 | HTTP, P2P | Yes | Connecting P2P | Hosted on your own webspace | beta (v1.0) |
Diaspora X2 [85] (Dead Project) | client [86] using buddycloud for federation | XMPP, buddycloud channels, [87] Activity Streams [85] | ? | ? | Diaspora X2 [88] | ? | |||
Diatum [89] | Supports contact and social media apps | server, [90] clients [91] [92] | Java, Typescript | Apache 2.0 | CoreDB [93] | Yes | Yes | no commit since 2021, main repository removed, alpha 0.01 [94] | |
DiSo Project [95] | WordPress plugins [96] | microformats ( XFN, hCard, XOXO), OpenID, OAuth, XMPP [95] | ? | ? | ? | ||||
DSNP [97] | DSNPd (server daemon), ChoiceSocial (web interface) [97] | Distributed Social Networking Protocol (DSNP) [97] [98] | ? | ? | Friends in Feed, ChoiceSocial.net, DistribSocial.net | beta (v0.6) | |||
Friend2Friend [99] | Strong encryption, XML for all data exchange, Data is digitally signed | LGPL | Connect to known individuals. | ? | alpha (updated: 2009) | ||||
Jappix [100] | XMPP client + Microblogging | server, web client | AGPL | XMPP | Excellent: based on presence authorizations | ? | demo [101] | stable | |
Knowee [102] | OpenID Signup, Activity Stream import and export, contact import from Web 2.0 services via XFN and FOAF, automatically updated address book from remote data sources, consolidated profile with RDF/FOAF export, personal SPARQL API | server [103] | PHP [103] | W3C | OpenID, FOAF | ? | ? | alpha | |
Kopal [104] | OpenID Core, multiple profiles | server [105] | Ruby | MIT | OpenID, Kopal Connect protocol, [106] Kopal Feed microformat [107] | ? | ? | alpha | |
Kune [108] | real-time collaborative edition, XMPP chat, groups, calendar, lists, tasks, blogs, Apache Wave inbox (modern email), wave extensions (gadgets, robots), public webpages, profiles, galleries (photos, videos), maps, federation, usability | server, integrates Apache Wave | Java-based GWT (generates AJAX) | AGPLv3 | XMPP, Wave Federation Protocol | Excellent | Total federation/interoperability with other Kune installations and Apache Wave accounts. XMPP chat interoperable with other XMPP-compliant | kune.cc, [109] demo, [110] 3 in total | stable (updated: 2017) |
Libertree [111] | Social network | server and webclient | Ruby | AGPLv3 | No | 3 | beta (updated: 2015) | ||
Lorea [112] | Profiles, microblogging, streams, groups, plugins, group mailing lists, tasks, calendar, subgroups, tagclouds | Elgg, [113] plugins [114] | GPL | OpenID, Activity Streams, PubSubHubbub, WebID. Working on: OStatus [113] (60% production), XMPP/psyc (50% development), rdf+sparql (10% development) | Excellent | Supported through plugin. | 5: project's group [115] | stable (seems dead by 2016-12-28) | |
Mr. Privacy [116] | SMTP, IMAP | Yes | Yes | ? | |||||
Multichan [117] | Anonymous textboard / imageboard network [118] | server, webclient | Python | Public domain | Multichan, Atom | Yes | Yes | 5-10 instances [119] | paused on 2021-07-01, alpha 1.7 [117] |
Newebe [120] | one user = one node; microblogging, picture sharing, activity stream | server, web client | Python / Coffeescript | AGPL | HTTP, REST API | alpha (updated: 2016) | |||
NoseRub [121] | sample server [122] | NoseRub protocol / WebID [123] | ? | ? | demo [124] | ? | |||
Numaverse [125] | Microblogging | P2P app | "MIT" [126] | Ethereum, IPFS, ActivityPub planned but never completed | Alpha, no commits since April 2018 | ||||
OneSocialWeb [127] | Microblogging | Openfire plugin, clients [128] | Java | Apache 2 | XMPP, XMPP extensions [129] | Yes | Yes | alpha | |
OpenAutonomy [130] | Micro-blogging, RSS aggregation, Cloud storage | server, [131] web client, [131] non-web applications, [132] | PHP (server), Javascript (web client), Java (native applications) | MIT | OpenAutonomy, XML-RPC | Trusted user list and fine-grained trusted sub-groups | All components intrinsically federated | 4 known | stable (r210) [131] (updated: 2015) |
OpenLink Data Spaces (ODS) [133] | Profile Management, Blogs, Wikis, Address Books, Calendars, Feed Aggregation, Discussion Forums (includes NNTP support), File Servers (WebDAV based Briefcase). | Dual (Commercial and GPL for Open Source Edition) | WebID, WebFinger, OpenID, OAuth, HTTP, SPARQL, Atom Publishing, PubSubHubbub, Semantic Pingback, OpenSocial, Social Graph API, Portable Contacts, more. | WebID and others | Yes | id.myopenlink.net [134] among others | stable (updated: 2016) | ||
OpenMicroBlogger | User-toggleable "apps" to add/remove functionality. RSSCloud and partial OStatus ( PubSubHubbub) federation as well as Open Microblogging 0.1. Local follow/unfollow. Facebook, Twitter, Flickr integration. (partial) Twitter API support. Fully Restful design, user interface consumes Rest API. | MIT | Open Microblogging 0.1, RSSCloud, (partial) OStatus ( PubSubHubbub) | Yes | Yes | alpha | |||
Osada | social network, microblogging | server | PHP, JavaScript | Zot/6, ActivityPub | Extensive | Everyone connected to ActivityPub | ? | unmaintained | |
Project Danube | 1) Sharing personal data with companies/organizations 2) Sharing personal data with "friends" 3) Use of personal data for "personal applications" |
TBD, likely Eclipse or Apache | OStatus, OAuth 2.0, WebFinger, hCard, Portable Contacts, XRI, XDI, PubSubHubbub, Salmon | ? | StatusNet and Cliqset, among others | alpha | |||
Project Nori | OStatus, OAuth, Portable Contacts, WebFinger, and other open protocols | ? | Yes | alpha | |||||
psyced | profiles, chat, microblogging | server, clients optional | LPC [135] |
GPLv2 MIT [136] |
PSYC, XMPP, IRC, TELNET, HTTP, Applet, SMTP, WAP, RSS | OTR, friends-only functions and profile, secret chatrooms, presence, tor integration | PSYC and XMPP | 5 public known ones in 2016 [137] | stable (updated: 2016) |
postActiv | microblogging | server, web client | PHP, Javascript | OStatus, ActivityPub and Zot support proposed but never implemented | homepage and code forge went offline late 2019 | ||||
Prismo [138] | link sharing | server, web client | Ruby | AGPL v3 | ActivityPub | No commits since May 2019 | |||
Safebook [139] | GPL | Extensive, including communication untraceability | ? | demo [140] | beta [141] | ||||
SMOB | microblogging | FOAF | ? | ? | unmaintained | ||||
Social-Igniter [142] | friends, places, status, comments, modular apps (messages, blog, cart, media), themes, mobile themes, 3rd party integration (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube), editable widgets, | server | GPL | Webfinger, PubSubHubbub, OpenID, OAuth, Activity Streams | Yes | Yes | 3 | alpha | |
SocialRiver [143] |
GPL AGPL |
OStatus, [144] OpenID, will add support for OAuth | Private Messaging, Privacy Controls | Yes | ? | ||||
SocialZE [145] | server, web client | OSMP (Open Social Message Protocol) | Yes | ? | alpha | ||||
Sonic [146] [147][ citation needed] | Federation protocol for OSN services | API, SDK | PHP / JSON | MIT | Yes | beta (updated: 2018) | |||
Synology applications package | Chat, Photo Album Filesharing, Calendar, Video player, office suit, Notes, Mailserver | Server and (mobile) clients | ? | Proprietary | JumpChat, Appear.in, AD/LDAP | Yes | No | Stable, some beta | |
Tent [148] | Profiles, Developer-extensible Post and Profile Types, Data Import, Groups, Privacy Controls, Content versioning | server, [149] clients [150] | Ruby (reference implementations) | MIT (reference implementation) | Tent, HTTPS | Yes Granular permissions (Access Control Lists for all content) | Yes | Tent.is | alpha (0.2) |
Thimbl [151] | microblogging | Finger, SSH | ? | Planned for future | alpha | ||||
Twister [152] | microblogging | P2P client, web interface | C++, Javascript | MIT and BSD | Bitcoin, Torrent, DHT | Yes End-to-end encryption for private messages | not yet | beta, abandoned by author in 2020, no issues closed or commits since 2022 | |
Zap | social network, microblogging, cloud storage | server | PHP, JavaScript | MIT | Zot/6, ActivityPub | Extensive | Yes | ? | stable, repository deleted [153] |
Project Name | Features | Software Type | Programming Language | License | Protocols | Privacy Support | Federation (with other applications or services) | Instances | Maturity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Element | FOSS Chat with strong encryption | Web client, desktop app, android app, ios app | JavaScript, ObjectiveC, Swift, Java, Kotlin | Apache License 2.0 | Matrix protocol | Yes. e2ee in Personal message by default. e2ee must be enabled for group chat | Freenode, snoonet, gitter, OFTC. Can bridge to many other services | 2117 matrix nodes [154] | stable |
Lemmy | Social news or internet forum (like Reddit) | server and webclient | Rust, Actix, Diesel, Inferno, Typescript [155] | AGPLv3 | ActivityPub | Development not yet complete, more privacy options are likely to be implemented. | Yes | lemmy.ml and more | stable |
Nextcloud | online storage, data synchronization, file encryption, calendar, task scheduler, address book, media streaming, content sharing, bookmarking, photo gallery, video viewer, RSS/ Atom feed reader, drawing, polls, markdown editing, Collabora office suite, mind mapping, notes, PDF viewer, 2FA, custom terms of service, maps, and many more | server, client, web client, mobile apps | PHP, JavaScript | GNU AGPLv3 | WebDAV, HTTP, OAuth, OpenID | Yes | Yes | service providers | stable |
ownCloud | online storage, data synchronization, file encryption, calendar, task scheduler, address book, media streaming, content sharing, bookmarking, photo gallery, video viewer, RSS/ Atom feed reader | server, client, web-client | PHP, JavaScript | AGPLv3 | WebDAV, Federated Cloud Sharing API, [156] Open Collaboration Services | Yes | Yes | service providers [157] | stable |
SparkleShare [158] | Collaboration and sharing tool inspired by Dropbox | Python (Nautilus plugin), C# (rest) | GPLv3 | SSH | Yes, encryption option | planned | alpha |
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