Akkoma vs Friendica
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
Friendica
Decentralized social network with broad federation
| Feature | Akkoma | Friendica |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Social Networks | Social Networks |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Elixir | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 400 | ★ 1,690 |
| First released | 2022 | 2010 |
| Replaces | Twitter, Tumblr | Facebook, Twitter |
What are Akkoma and Friendica?
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
Friendica
Friendica is a free, open-source decentralized social network. It connects to the fediverse and other networks, offering a Facebook-style experience with groups, photos, and events.
- Federates with many networks
- Groups and forums
- Photo albums and events
- Addon system
Akkoma vs Friendica: key differences
Akkoma is written in Elixir, while Friendica is built with PHP. Friendica is the more established project (first released 2010), while Akkoma arrived in 2022. Friendica has the considerably larger community, at 1,690 GitHub stars versus 400.
Why pick each one
Choose Akkoma if…
- Lots of configuration options
- Lightweight footprint
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Hosted on a niche forge
Choose Friendica if…
- Connects to multiple protocols
- Facebook-like experience
Watch out for
- Dated interface
- Smaller user base
Frequently asked questions
Is Akkoma or Friendica better?
Neither is universally better. Friendica has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Akkoma and Friendica free and open-source?
Yes. Akkoma is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Friendica under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Akkoma and Friendica with Docker?
Akkoma: yes. Friendica: yes.