Fedify vs Sharkey
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted social networks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Fedify | Sharkey |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ★ 600 |
| First released | 2024 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Twitter, Mastodon |
What are Fedify and Sharkey?
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
Sharkey
Sharkey is a feature-rich fork of Misskey that adds quote posts, improved moderation, and additional customization for fediverse instances. It supports a rich timeline with reactions and drive file storage.
- Quote posts and reactions
- Drive file storage
- Extensive customization
- Improved moderation
Fedify vs Sharkey: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Licensing differs — MIT for Fedify versus AGPL-3.0 for Sharkey. Fedify is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Sharkey. Sharkey 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 Sharkey if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in TypeScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Fedify or Sharkey 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 Sharkey free and open-source?
Yes. Fedify is licensed under MIT and Sharkey under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Fedify and Sharkey with Docker?
Fedify: check the project docs for container support. Sharkey: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Fedify or Sharkey?
Fedify has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Sharkey. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.