Hubzilla vs Smithereen
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted social networks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Hubzilla
Decentralized identity and social platform
VS
Smithereen
Federated social network with a familiar layout
| Feature | Hubzilla | Smithereen |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Social Networks | Social Networks |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 380 | ★ 546 |
| First released | 2015 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Facebook, Google+ | Facebook, VK |
What are Hubzilla and Smithereen?
Hubzilla
Hubzilla is a free, open-source platform for creating interconnected websites with decentralized identity, social networking, file storage, and content management features.
- Nomadic decentralized identity
- Social networking and CMS
- Cloud file storage
- Fine-grained permissions
Smithereen
Smithereen is a federated, ActivityPub-powered social network whose interface is inspired by classic social media layouts. It supports friends, walls, photo albums, and groups across the fediverse.
- Classic social layout
- Friend and wall model
- Photo albums
- Fediverse groups
Hubzilla vs Smithereen: key differences
Hubzilla is written in PHP, while Smithereen is built with Java. Licensing differs — MIT for Hubzilla versus AGPL-3.0 for Smithereen. Hubzilla is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Smithereen. Hubzilla is the more established project (first released 2015), while Smithereen arrived in 2020.
Why pick each one
Choose Hubzilla if…
- Unique nomadic identity
- Very feature-rich
Watch out for
- Complex to learn
- Niche community
Choose Smithereen if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Java
Frequently asked questions
Is Hubzilla or Smithereen better?
Smithereen is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Hubzilla if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Hubzilla and Smithereen free and open-source?
Yes. Hubzilla is licensed under MIT and Smithereen under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Hubzilla and Smithereen with Docker?
Hubzilla: yes. Smithereen: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Hubzilla or Smithereen?
Hubzilla has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Smithereen. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.