Akkoma vs Fedify
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted social networks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Akkoma
Feature-rich fediverse server forked from Pleroma
VS
Fedify
ActivityPub server framework for TypeScript
| Feature | Akkoma | Fedify |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Social Networks | Social Networks |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Elixir | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 400 | ★ 1,026 |
| First released | 2022 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Twitter, Tumblr |
What are Akkoma and Fedify?
Akkoma
Akkoma is a free, open-source fediverse microblogging server forked from Pleroma. It focuses on customization, additional features, and a friendly community while staying lightweight.
- Pleroma-compatible fediverse server
- Extensive customization options
- Mastodon API support
- Bubble timeline feature
Fedify
Fedify is a TypeScript framework for building ActivityPub-based federated server applications. It handles the protocol details so developers can create new fediverse software more easily.
- ActivityPub server framework
- Handles federation protocol
- TypeScript and Deno support
- Powers fediverse apps
Akkoma vs Fedify: key differences
Akkoma is written in Elixir, while Fedify is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Akkoma versus MIT for Fedify. Fedify is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Akkoma. Akkoma is the more established project (first released 2022), while Fedify arrived in 2024. Fedify has the considerably larger community, at 1,026 GitHub stars versus 400. Akkoma lists first-class Docker deployment; Fedify does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Akkoma if…
- Lots of configuration options
- Lightweight footprint
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Hosted on a niche forge
Choose Fedify if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Active community (1k GitHub stars)
- Written in TypeScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Akkoma or Fedify better?
Neither is universally better. Fedify has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Akkoma and Fedify free and open-source?
Yes. Akkoma is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Fedify under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Akkoma and Fedify with Docker?
Akkoma: yes. Fedify: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Akkoma or Fedify?
Fedify has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Akkoma. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.