Hollo vs Wafrn
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
Wafrn
Archived
Tumblr-style federated social network
| Feature | Hollo | Wafrn |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 79 · Good | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Social Networks | Social Networks |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 489 | ★ 283 |
| First released | 2024 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Twitter, Mastodon | Tumblr, Twitter |
What are Hollo and Wafrn?
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
Wafrn
Wafrn is an open-source, federated social network with a Tumblr-inspired reblog-and-tag experience. It connects to the fediverse over ActivityPub so users can interact with Mastodon and other servers.
- Tumblr-style reblogs
- Tag-based discovery
- Fediverse federation
- Custom themes
Hollo vs Wafrn: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Wafrn's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Hollo is actively maintained. Both projects are written in TypeScript. Hollo is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Wafrn.
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 Wafrn if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in TypeScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Hollo or Wafrn 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 Wafrn free and open-source?
Yes. Hollo is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Wafrn under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Hollo and Wafrn with Docker?
Hollo: yes. Wafrn: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Hollo or Wafrn?
Hollo has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Wafrn. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.