Hollo vs Mitra
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted social networks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Hollo
Single-user federated microblogging server
VS
Mitra
Federated microblogging server with crypto integration
| Feature | Hollo | Mitra |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Social Networks | Social Networks |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 489 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2024 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Twitter, Mastodon | Twitter, Mastodon |
What are Hollo and Mitra?
Hollo
Hollo is a federated single-user microblogging server compatible with the Mastodon client API. It is designed for individuals who want their own ActivityPub presence without running a multi-user instance.
- Single-user microblog
- Mastodon API compatible
- ActivityPub federation
- Markdown posts
Mitra
Mitra is a lightweight, federated microblogging server written in Rust that implements ActivityPub. It is designed for small instances and includes optional integration with cryptocurrency-based features.
- Lightweight Rust server
- ActivityPub federation
- Small-instance focus
- Low resource usage
Hollo vs Mitra: key differences
Hollo is written in TypeScript, while Mitra is built with Rust. Mitra is the more established project (first released 2021), while Hollo arrived in 2024. Hollo has the considerably larger community, at 489 GitHub stars versus 200.
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 Mitra if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Rust
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Hollo or Mitra 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 Mitra free and open-source?
Yes. Hollo is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Mitra under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Hollo and Mitra with Docker?
Hollo: yes. Mitra: yes.