Hollo vs Ktistec
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted social networks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Hollo
Single-user federated microblogging server
VS
Ktistec
Single-user ActivityPub server in Crystal
| Feature | Hollo | Ktistec |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Social Networks | Social Networks |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Crystal |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 480 | ★ 435 |
| First released | 2024 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Twitter, Mastodon | Twitter, Mastodon |
Why pick each one
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
Choose Ktistec if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Written in Crystal
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Hollo or Ktistec better?
Neither is universally better. Hollo has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Hollo and Ktistec free and open-source?
Yes. Hollo is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Ktistec under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Hollo and Ktistec with Docker?
Hollo: yes. Ktistec: check the project docs for container support.