Ktistec vs Sharkey
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted social networks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Ktistec | Sharkey |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Social Networks | Social Networks |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Crystal | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 436 | ★ 600 |
| First released | 2020 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Twitter, Mastodon | Twitter, Mastodon |
What are Ktistec and Sharkey?
Ktistec
Ktistec is a single-user ActivityPub server written in Crystal, designed to be easy to deploy and maintain. It provides a personal fediverse presence with a simple, self-contained runtime.
- Single-user design
- Self-contained runtime
- SQLite storage
- ActivityPub federation
Sharkey
Sharkey is a feature-rich fork of Misskey that adds quote posts, improved moderation, and additional customization for fediverse instances. It supports a rich timeline with reactions and drive file storage.
- Quote posts and reactions
- Drive file storage
- Extensive customization
- Improved moderation
Ktistec vs Sharkey: key differences
Ktistec is written in Crystal, while Sharkey is built with TypeScript. Ktistec is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Sharkey. Ktistec is the more established project (first released 2020), while Sharkey arrived in 2023. Sharkey lists first-class Docker deployment; Ktistec does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Ktistec if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Written in Crystal
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Choose Sharkey if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in TypeScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Ktistec or Sharkey better?
Neither is universally better. Sharkey has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Ktistec and Sharkey free and open-source?
Yes. Ktistec is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Sharkey under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Ktistec and Sharkey with Docker?
Ktistec: check the project docs for container support. Sharkey: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Ktistec or Sharkey?
Ktistec has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Sharkey. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.