Fedify vs Firefish
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted social networks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Fedify | Firefish |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Social Networks | Social Networks |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,026 | ★ 1,300 |
| First released | 2024 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Twitter, Mastodon |
What are Fedify and Firefish?
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
Firefish
Firefish is an open-source, decentralized social media platform built on ActivityPub with extensive interface customization. It includes a built-in post translator, reactions, and a flexible timeline.
- Highly customizable UI
- Post reactions
- Built-in translation
- Federated timelines
Fedify vs Firefish: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Licensing differs — MIT for Fedify versus AGPL-3.0 for Firefish. Fedify is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Firefish. Firefish is the more established project (first released 2022), while Fedify arrived in 2024. Firefish lists first-class Docker deployment; Fedify does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Fedify if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Active community (1k GitHub stars)
- Written in TypeScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Choose Firefish if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.3k GitHub stars)
- Written in TypeScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Fedify or Firefish better?
Neither is universally better. Firefish has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Fedify and Firefish free and open-source?
Yes. Fedify is licensed under MIT and Firefish under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Fedify and Firefish with Docker?
Fedify: check the project docs for container support. Firefish: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Fedify or Firefish?
Fedify has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Firefish. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.