Akkoma vs ActivityPub for WordPress
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
ActivityPub for WordPress
Turn a WordPress blog into a fediverse actor
| Feature | Akkoma | ActivityPub for WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Social Networks | Social Networks |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Elixir | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 400 | ★ 583 |
| First released | 2022 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Twitter, Tumblr | Twitter, Medium |
What are Akkoma and ActivityPub for WordPress?
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
ActivityPub for WordPress
The ActivityPub plugin lets a self-hosted WordPress site federate with the fediverse, so people can follow blog posts from Mastodon and other ActivityPub software. It also delivers comments back as replies.
- Federates WordPress posts
- Follow blogs from Mastodon
- Comments as replies
- Official Automattic plugin
Akkoma vs ActivityPub for WordPress: key differences
Akkoma is written in Elixir, while ActivityPub for WordPress is built with PHP. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Akkoma versus MIT for ActivityPub for WordPress. ActivityPub for WordPress is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Akkoma. ActivityPub for WordPress is the more established project (first released 2019), while Akkoma arrived in 2022. Akkoma lists first-class Docker deployment; ActivityPub for WordPress 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 ActivityPub for WordPress if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in PHP
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Akkoma or ActivityPub for WordPress better?
ActivityPub for WordPress is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Akkoma if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Akkoma and ActivityPub for WordPress free and open-source?
Yes. Akkoma is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and ActivityPub for WordPress under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Akkoma and ActivityPub for WordPress with Docker?
Akkoma: yes. ActivityPub for WordPress: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Akkoma or ActivityPub for WordPress?
ActivityPub for WordPress 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.