Fedify vs Hollo
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted social networks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Hollo
Single-user federated microblogging server
| Feature | Fedify | Hollo |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 82 · Excellent | 79 · Good |
| Category | Social Networks | Social Networks |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | source | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,026 | ★ 489 |
| First released | 2024 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Twitter, Mastodon |
What are Fedify and Hollo?
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
Hollo
Hollo is a federated single-user microblogging server compatible with the Mastodon client API. It is designed for individuals who want their own ActivityPub presence without running a multi-user instance.
- Single-user microblog
- Mastodon API compatible
- ActivityPub federation
- Markdown posts
Fedify vs Hollo: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Licensing differs — MIT for Fedify versus AGPL-3.0 for Hollo. Fedify is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Hollo. Fedify has the considerably larger community, at 1,026 GitHub stars versus 489. Hollo 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 Hollo if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in TypeScript
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Fedify or Hollo 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 Fedify and Hollo free and open-source?
Yes. Fedify is licensed under MIT and Hollo under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Fedify and Hollo with Docker?
Fedify: check the project docs for container support. Hollo: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Fedify or Hollo?
Fedify has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Hollo. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.