Social Networks and Forums / Free Software and web applications

This is a list of Free Software network services and web applications which can be hosted locally. Selfhosting is the process of locally hosting and managing applications instead of renting from SaaS providers. ---from github/Kickball/awesome-selfhosted


  • Abilian SBE - Open Source Collaboration and Social Networking framework and platform. LGPL-2.1 Python
  • Anahita - Open Source Social Networking Framework and Platform. (Source CodeGPL-3.0 PHP
  • bbPress - bbPress is forum software with a twist from the creators of WordPress. Easily setup discussion forums inside your WordPress.org powered site. (Source CodeGPL-2.0 PHP
  • Bootcamp - Enterprise social network. (Source CodeMIT Python
  • Buddycloud - Tools, libraries, services and a community to build user-to-user, group and social messaging into your app. Saves time. Scales up. Supports you. (Source CodeApache-2.0 Java
  • BuddyPress - Powerful plugin that takes your WordPress.org powered site beyond the blog with social-network features like user profiles, activity streams, user groups, and more. (Source CodeGPL-2.0 PHP
  • cartulary - RSS reader, readability tool, article archiver, microblogger, social graph manager and reading list manager. CDDL-1.0 PHP
  • Commento - Commento is a discussion platform that you can embed on your blog, news articles, and any place where you want your readers to add comments. MIT GO
  • diaspora* - Distributed social networking server. (DemoSource CodeAGPL-3.0 Ruby
  • Discourse - Advanced forum / community solution based on Ruby and JS. (DemoSource CodeGPL-2.0 Ruby
  • dyu/comments - Real-time, markdown-enabled comment engine powered by leveldb. (DemoApache-2.0 Java
  • Elgg - Powerful open source social networking engine. (Source CodeGPL-2.0 PHP
  • Flarum - Delightfully simple forums. Flarum is the next-generation forum software that makes online discussion fun again. (Source CodeMIT PHP
  • flaskbb - FlaskBB is forum software written in Python using the microframework Flask. You can easily create new topics, posts and send other users private messages. It also includes basic administration and moderation tools. (Source CodeBSD-3-Clause Python
  • FluxBB - Fast, light, user-friendly forum software for your website. (Source CodeGPL-2.0 PHP
  • Friendica - Social Communication Server. (Source CodeAGPL-3.0 PHP
  • GNU social - Social communication software for both public and private communications. (Source CodeAGPL-3.0 PHP
  • Hubzilla - Decentralized identity, privacy, publishing, sharing, cloud storage, and communications/social platform. (Source CodeMIT PHP
  • HumHub - Flexible kit for private social networks. (Source CodeAGPL-3.0 PHP
  • Isso - Lightweight commenting server written in Python and Javascript. It aims to be a drop-in replacement for Disqus. (Source CodeMIT Python
  • Loomio - Loomio is a collaborative decision-making tool that makes it easy for anyone to participate in decisions which affect them. (Source CodeAGPL-3.0 Ruby
  • Mastodon - Federated microblogging server, an alternative to GNU social. (Source CodeAGPL-3.0 Ruby
  • Movim - Modern, federated social network based on XMPP, with a fully featured group-chat, subscriptions and microblogging. (Source CodeAGPL-3.0 PHP
  • MyBB - Free, extensible forum software package. (Source CodeLGPL-3.0 PHP
  • Newebe - Distributed Social Network. (Source CodeAGPL-3.0 Python
  • NodeBB - Node.js based forum software built for the modern web. (Source CodeGPL-3.0 Nodejs
  • Orange Forum - Orange Forum is an easy to deploy forum that has minimal dependencies and uses very little javascript. (DemoSource CodeBSD-3-Clause Go
  • OSSN - Open Source Social Network (OSSN) is a social networking software written in PHP. It allows you to make a social networking website and helps your members build social relationships, with people who share similar professional or personal interests. (Source CodeGPL-2.0 PHP
  • Oxwall - Oxwall is used for a wide range of projects starting from family sites and custom social networks to collaboration tools and enterprise community solutions. (Source CodeCPAL-1.0 PHP
  • phpBB - Flat-forum bulletin board software solution that can be used to stay in touch with a group of people or can power your entire website. (Source CodeGPL-2.0 PHP
  • PixelFed - Pixelfed is an open-source, federated platform alternate to Instagram. (Source CodeAGPL-3.0 PHP\HTML\Vue
  • Pleroma - Federated microblogging server, Mastodon, GNU social, & ActivityPub compatible. (Source CodeAGPL-3.0Elixir
  • PPnet - Create and host your own social network. MIT Javascript
  • Pump.io - Stream server that does most of what people really want from a social network. (Source CodeApache-2.0Nodejs
  • remark42 - A lightweight and simple comment engine, which doesn't spy on users. It can be embedded into blogs, articles or any other place where readers add comments. (DemoSource CodeMIT Go
  • Scoold - Stack Overflow in a JAR. An enterprise-ready Q&A platform with full-text search, SAML, LDAP integration and social login support. (DemoSource CodeApache-2.0 Java
  • Simple Machines Forum - Free, professional grade software package that allows you to set up your own online community within minutes. (Source CodeBSD-3-Clause PHP
  • Socialhome - Federated and decentralized profile builder and social network engine. (DemoSource CodeAGPL-3.0Python
  • Symphony - Modern community (forum/SNS/blog) platform written in Java. (Source CodeGPL-3.0 Java
  • Talkyard - Create a community, where your users can suggest ideas and get questions answered. And have friendly open-ended discussions and chat (Slack/StackOverflow/Discourse/Reddit/Disqus hybrid). (DemoSource CodeAGPL-3.0 Scala
  • Telescope - Open-source social news app built with Meteor. (DemoSource CodeMIT Nodejs
  • Tokumei - Anonymous microblogging platform. (DemoSource CodeISC rc
  • Thredded - Forums, feature-rich and simple. (DemoSource CodeMIT Ruby
  • twister - Fully decentralized P2P microblogging platform leveraging the free software implementations of Bitcoin and BitTorrent protocols. (Source CodeMIT C++
  • Vanilla Forums - Simple and flexible forum software. (Source CodeGPL-2.0 PHP