Fedify vs Iceshrimp
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted social networks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Fedify | Iceshrimp |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,026 | ★ 300 |
| First released | 2024 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Twitter, Mastodon |
What are Fedify and Iceshrimp?
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
Iceshrimp
Iceshrimp is a decentralized, ActivityPub-compatible microblogging server derived from Misskey with a focus on stability and reduced resource use. It offers a familiar fediverse experience with custom emoji and reactions.
- Misskey-compatible features
- Custom emoji reactions
- Lower resource usage
- ActivityPub federation
Fedify vs Iceshrimp: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Licensing differs — MIT for Fedify versus AGPL-3.0 for Iceshrimp. Fedify is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Iceshrimp. Fedify has the considerably larger community, at 1,026 GitHub stars versus 300. Iceshrimp 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 Iceshrimp if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in TypeScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Fedify or Iceshrimp 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 Iceshrimp free and open-source?
Yes. Fedify is licensed under MIT and Iceshrimp under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Fedify and Iceshrimp with Docker?
Fedify: check the project docs for container support. Iceshrimp: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Fedify or Iceshrimp?
Fedify has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Iceshrimp. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.