Fedify vs Mastodon
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted social networks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Mastodon
Decentralized open-source microblogging server
| Feature | Fedify | Mastodon |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 82 · Excellent | 100 · Excellent |
| Category | Social Networks | Social Networks |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Ruby |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,026 | ★ 50,313 |
| First released | 2024 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Twitter, X |
What are Fedify and Mastodon?
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
Mastodon
Mastodon is a free, open-source decentralized social network and microblogging server. It is part of the fediverse, federating with other ActivityPub servers so users can follow accounts across instances.
- ActivityPub federation
- Chronological timelines
- Content warnings and moderation tools
- Rich third-party app ecosystem
Fedify vs Mastodon: key differences
Fedify is written in TypeScript, while Mastodon is built with Ruby. Licensing differs — MIT for Fedify versus AGPL-3.0 for Mastodon. Fedify is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Mastodon. Mastodon is the more established project (first released 2016), while Fedify arrived in 2024. Mastodon has the considerably larger community, at 50,313 GitHub stars versus 1,026. Mastodon 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 Mastodon if…
- Large fediverse network
- Strong moderation features
Watch out for
- Resource-heavy to host
- Operationally complex
Frequently asked questions
Is Fedify or Mastodon better?
Neither is universally better. Mastodon has the larger community, while Fedify is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Fedify and Mastodon free and open-source?
Yes. Fedify is licensed under MIT and Mastodon under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Fedify and Mastodon with Docker?
Fedify: check the project docs for container support. Mastodon: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Fedify or Mastodon?
Fedify has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Mastodon. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.