Elk vs Soapbox
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted social networks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Elk | Soapbox |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Social Networks | Social Networks |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Vue | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,035 | ★ 700 |
| First released | 2022 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Twitter app | Twitter app |
What are Elk and Soapbox?
Elk
Elk is a lightweight, progressive web app client for Mastodon-compatible servers that can be self-hosted as static files. It provides a fast browsing experience without installing a native app.
- Progressive web app
- Works with any Mastodon server
- Self-hostable static build
- Fast and lightweight
Soapbox
Soapbox is a flexible front-end for fediverse servers such as Pleroma, Akkoma, and Mastodon, offering an alternative interface with extensive theming. It can be deployed as static files against any compatible backend.
- Alternative fediverse UI
- Works with Pleroma and Mastodon
- Extensive theming
- Static deployment
Elk vs Soapbox: key differences
Elk is written in Vue, while Soapbox is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — MIT for Elk versus AGPL-3.0 for Soapbox. Elk is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Soapbox. Soapbox is the more established project (first released 2020), while Elk arrived in 2022. Elk has the considerably larger community, at 6,035 GitHub stars versus 700.
Why pick each one
Choose Elk if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Mature project with 6k GitHub stars
- Written in Vue
Choose Soapbox if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Written in TypeScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Elk or Soapbox better?
Elk is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Soapbox if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Elk and Soapbox free and open-source?
Yes. Elk is licensed under MIT and Soapbox under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Elk and Soapbox with Docker?
Elk: check the project docs for container support. Soapbox: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Elk or Soapbox?
Elk has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Soapbox. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.