Comparison of software and protocols for distributed social networking
The following is a comparison of both software and protocols that are used for distributed social networking .
Software
Active
Project Name
Features
Software type
Programming Language
License
Privacy features, if any
Federation capabilities
Instance count
Current status
Bluesky
Microblogging
Client[ 1]
TypeScript
MIT
None (planned)
AT Protocol (Personal Data Server, opinionated services)[ 2] Active
diaspora*
Status messages , blogging , image sharing
Client/server
Ruby
AGPL v3
Post reach can be controlled via "aspects"
diaspora* network
[ 3] Active
Friendica
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.
Client/server
PHP , JavaScript
AGPLv3
Access controls for content, disappearing messages, private groups
ActivityPub , DFRN, diaspora* network, Email , RSS , third-party connections (Tumblr , Twitter , more via plugins )
[ 4] Active
Hubzilla[ 5]
Decentralised identity and community platform, blogging, rich social networking, cloud storage and internet-scale access control/privacy
Client/server
PHP, JavaScript
MIT
Access controls for content, private groups
ActivityPub, diaspora* network, Zot
[ 6] Active
Lemmy
Social news
Client/server
Rust
AGPLv3
None
ActivityPub
[ 7] Active
Libervia
Microblogging, group microblogging, file sharing, games, XMPP client
Client/server
Python , C++
AGPLv3
Presence authorization, XMPP groups
XMPP , ActivityPub in beta as of 2022[update] [ 8] Demo[ 9]
Active
Mastodon
Microblogging
Client/server
Ruby, JavaScript
AGPLv3
Access controls for content
ActivityPub
156 [ 10] Active
Micro.blog
Microblogging
Client
Unknown
Proprietary
Access controls for content
ActivityPub, AT Protocol (Bluesky crossposting)
Active
Minds
Microblogging
Client/server
PHP
AGPLv3
None
ActivityPub
Active
Misskey
Microblogging
Client/server
TypeScript
AGPLv3
Access controls for content
ActivityPub
[ 11] Active
Mobilizon
Events, groups, shared folders
Client/server
Elixir
AGPLv3
Access controls for content
ActivityPub
[ 12] Active
Movim
XMPP client, news aggregation
Client/server
PHP
AGPLv3
Access controls for content, end-to-end encryption for chats
XMPP
[ 13] Active
PeerTube
Video sharing
Client/server
TypeScript
AGPLv3
Access controls for content
ActivityPub
[ 14] Active
Pixelfed
Image sharing, similar to Instagram
Client/server
PHP
AGPLv3
Access controls for content
ActivityPub
[ 15] Active
Pleroma
Instant messaging , microblogging
Client/server
Elixir
AGPLv3
Access controls for content
ActivityPub
[ 16] Active
Plume[ 17]
Blogging
Client/server
Rust
AGPLv3
Access controls for content
ActivityPub
[ 18] Active
Socialhome[ 19]
Microblogging, blogging, home page builder
Client/server
Python, JavaScript
AGPLv3
Access controls for content
ActivityPub, diaspora*
[ 20] Active
Inactive
Project Name
Features
Software type
Programming Language
License
Privacy features, if any
Federation capabilities
Current status
GNU social
Primarily microblogging, groups
Client/server
PHP
AGPLv3
Access controls for content
ActivityPub (via plugin), OStatus
Stable, last update to both supported major versions circa 2022
Jappix[ 21]
XMPP client + Microblogging
Client
JavaScript, PHP
AGPLv3
Presence authorizations
XMPP
Stable, inactive
Kune
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
Client/server
Java
AGPLv3
Access controls for content
XMPP , Wave Federation Protocol
Stable, last updated 2017
Numaverse[ 22]
Microblogging
Client (peer-to-peer )
Ruby
MIT
Unknown
Ethereum, IPFS
Beta, last updated 2018
OneSocialWeb[ 23]
Microblogging
Openfire plugin, clients[ 24] Java
Apache 2.0
Presence authorizations, access controls for content
XMPP , XMPP extensions[ 25] Alpha
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.
Client
MIT
Open Microblogging 0.1, RSSCloud , (partial) OStatus (PubSubHubbub )
Open Microblogging 0.1, RSSCloud , (partial) OStatus (PubSubHubbub )
Alpha
Osada
Microblogging
Server
PHP, JavaScript
Access controls for content
Zot/6, ActivityPub
Stable
postActiv
Microblogging
Client/server
AGPLv3
Access controls for content
OStatus, ActivityPub and Zot support proposed but never implemented
homepage and code forge went offline late 2019
Prismo[ 26]
Link sharing
Client/server
Ruby
AGPLv3
Access controls for content
ActivityPub
No commits since May 2019
Project Danube
1) Sharing personal data with companies/organizations
2) Sharing personal data with "friends"
3) Use of personal data for "personal applications"
OStatus , OAuth 2.0, WebFinger , hCard , Portable Contacts , XRI , XDI , PubSubHubbub , Salmon
Alpha
Project Nori
OStatus , OAuth , Portable Contacts , WebFinger , and other open protocols
Alpha
pump.io
Microblogging
Client/server
Node.js , JavaScript
Apache 2.0
Access controls for content
ActivityPump
Stable, inactive
SMOB
Microblogging
unmaintained
Social-Igniter[ 27]
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
alpha
SocialRiver[ 28]
Client/server
GPL
AGPL
Private messaging, access controls
OStatus ,[ 29] OpenID , will add support for OAuth
Unmaintained
SocialZE[ 30]
Client/server
Access controls for content
OSMP (Open Social Message Protocol)
alpha
Sone[ 31]
microblogging, media library, decentralized spam protection
Client/server
Java, JavaScript
GPL
Hyphanet
beta
Protocols
Active
Project Name
Features
License
Privacy features, if any
Supported apps
Instance count
Current status
ActivityPub
Activity Streams , WebFinger
Released as a W3C standard
Inbox/outbox access controls
Many
~30,000
Active
ActivityPump
Activity Streams, WebFinger
AGPLv3
Inbox/outbox access controls
Pump.io
Inactive, network still online
AT Protocol
Modular, microservice -oriented protocol architecture
Dual (MIT, Apache 2.0)
None (planned)[ 32]
Bluesky
~2.4k data servers,[ 33]
Active
diaspora* network
Status messages, blogging, photo sharing
AGPLv3
Post reach can be controlled via "aspects"
diaspora* (social network)
61 (January 2025)[ 3]
Active
FOAF
User relationships
CC BY 1.0
None
Active
Nostr
Extensible, based on event objects
Public domain
None
Many
Hundreds of relays
Active, stable
OStatus
OAuth 2, WebFinger , PubSubHubbub , Salmon
AGPLv3
None
GNU social, StatusNet
Less than 100
Inactive, network still online
Peergos[ 34]
P2P storage, social network, and application protocol
AGPLv3
End-to-end encryption for private messages
Peergos
Unknown
Active, stable
Twister
Peer-to-peer microblogging
MIT and BSD
End-to-end encryption for private messages
Twister
Unknown
Inactive, network still online
twtxt[ 35]
Microblogging
Varied, based on implementation
None
Text editor
Unknown
Active, stable
XMPP
Microblogging
Varied, based on implementation
Access controls, presence authorization, encryption
Many
Many
Active, stable
Inactive
Project Name
Features
License
Privacy features, if any
Current status
6d[ 36]
Blog, media library, addressbook, themeable, private messaging
MIT
Post scopes when transmitting
Alpha
Aether[ 37]
Peer-to-peer, ephemeral, self-governing public communities with auditable and democratic moderation.[ 38]
AGPLv3
None
Stable, not updated since 2021
Appleseed (Quicksocial protocol)[ 39] [ 40]
Photos, Journals, Messaging, Groups, Privacy controls, Status Updates, Newsfeeds
GPL v2
Access controls for content
Cancelled
Buddycloud[ 41] [ 42]
Personal and topic channels, Buddycloud directory, channel search, channel recommender, media server, friend-finder, mobile and email push service, location, messaging
Apache 2.0[ 43] End-to-end encryption for private messages
Stable, last update 2015
Cunity[ 44]
Friends, Photo Album, Filesharing, Messaging, Pinboard, Newsfeed, Memberlist, Forum, Connecting Cunities
PHP
Peer-to-peer transmission
Beta
Diatum[ 45]
Supports contact and social media apps
Apache 2.0
no commit since 2021, main repository removed, alpha 0.01[ 46]
DiSo Project[ 47]
WordPress plugins[ 48]
beta (v0.6)
Distributed Social Networking Protocol [ 49] DSNPd (server daemon ), ChoiceSocial (web interface)[ 49]
beta (v0.6)
Friend2Friend[ 50]
Strong encryption, XML for all data exchange, Data is digitally signed
LGPL
Only connected to known users
Alpha
Knowee[ 51]
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
PHP[ 52]
Dead
Kopal[ 53]
OpenID , Kopal Connect protocol,[ 54] [ 55] MIT
alpha
Libertree[ 56]
Social network
AGPL v3
None
beta (updated: 2015)
Lorea[ 57]
Profiles, microblogging, streams, groups, plugins, group mailing lists, tasks, calendar, subgroups, tagclouds (lgg ,[ 58] [ 59]
GPL
stable (seems dead by 2016-12-28)
Mr. Privacy[ 60]
Email social network
Private messaging
Dead
Multichan [ 61]
Anonymous textboard / imageboard network[ 62] Public domain
None
paused on 2021-07-01, alpha 1.7[ 61]
Newebe[ 63]
one user = one node; microblogging, picture sharing, activity stream
AGPLv3
alpha (updated: 2016)
NoseRub[ 64] [ 65] [ 66]
Custom protocol
Dead
OpenAutonomy [ 67] Micro-blogging, RSS aggregation, Cloud storage
MIT
Trusted user list and fine-grained trusted sub-groups
stable (r210)[ 68]
OpenLink Data Spaces (ODS)[ 69]
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
stable (updated: 2016)
OpenMicroBlogging
Microblogging
AGPLv3
None
Dead
psyced[ 70]
profiles, chat, microblogging
stable (updated: 2016)
Safebook[ 71]
Peer-to-peer Facebook replacement
GPL
Untraceable communications
beta[ 72]
Secure Scuttlebutt
social networking, messaging, games, development tools
Various FLOSS licenses
End-to-end encryption for private messages.
Stable
SONIC[ 73] [ 74]
Federation protocol for OSN services
MIT
beta (updated: 2018)
Tent[ 75]
Profiles, Developer-extensible Post and Profile Types, Data Import, Groups, Privacy Controls, Content versioning
MIT (reference implementation)
alpha (0.2)
Thimbl[ 76]
Microblogging
alpha
Zot/Zap
social network, microblogging, cloud storage
MIT
stable, repository deleted[ 77]
See also
References
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