SHSelfHostIndex

Iceshrimp vs Wafrn

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?
IC Iceshrimp Lightweight Misskey-derived fediverse server VS WA Wafrn Archived Tumblr-style federated social network
FeatureIceshrimpWafrn
Deploy effortUnder-an-hour setupUnder-an-hour setup
StatusActively maintainedArchived
CategorySocial NetworksSocial Networks
LicenseAGPL-3.0AGPL-3.0
LanguageTypeScriptTypeScript
Setup difficultyMediumMedium
Min. RAM1,024 MB1,024 MB
Deploymentdocker, bare-metaldocker, bare-metal
GitHub stars★ 300★ 283
First released20232023
ReplacesTwitter, MastodonTumblr, Twitter

What are Iceshrimp and Wafrn?

Iceshrimp

Iceshrimp is a decentralized, ActivityPub-compatible microblogging server derived from Misskey with a focus on stability and reduced resource use. It offers a familiar fediverse experience with custom emoji and reactions.

  • Misskey-compatible features
  • Custom emoji reactions
  • Lower resource usage
  • ActivityPub federation

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

Iceshrimp vs Wafrn: key differences

The biggest difference is maintenance: Wafrn's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Iceshrimp is actively maintained. Both projects are written in TypeScript.

Why pick each one

Choose Iceshrimp if…

  • Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • Written in TypeScript
Iceshrimp details

Choose Wafrn if…

  • Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • Written in TypeScript
Wafrn details

Frequently asked questions

Is Iceshrimp or Wafrn better?

Neither is universally better. Iceshrimp has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.

Are Iceshrimp and Wafrn free and open-source?

Yes. Iceshrimp is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Wafrn under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Iceshrimp and Wafrn with Docker?

Iceshrimp: yes. Wafrn: yes.

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