Askbot vs Shapado
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted forums & community options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Askbot
Django-based question and answer forum software
VS
Shapado
Open-source question and answer community software
| Feature | Askbot | Shapado |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Forums & Community | Forums & Community |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Ruby |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,567 | ★ 527 |
| First released | 2009 | 2009 |
| Replaces | Stack Overflow | Stack Overflow, Quora |
Why pick each one
Choose Askbot if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.6k GitHub stars)
- Written in Python
Choose Shapado if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Written in Ruby
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Askbot or Shapado better?
Askbot is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Shapado if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Askbot and Shapado free and open-source?
Yes. Askbot is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Shapado under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Askbot and Shapado with Docker?
Askbot: yes. Shapado: check the project docs for container support.