Ktistec vs Streams
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?
Ktistec
Single-user ActivityPub server in Crystal
VS
Streams
Decentralized social server with nomadic identity
| Feature | Ktistec | Streams |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Social Networks | Social Networks |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Crystal | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 435 | ★ 100 |
| First released | 2020 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Twitter, Mastodon | Facebook, Mastodon |
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 Streams if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in PHP
Frequently asked questions
Is Ktistec or Streams better?
Ktistec is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Streams if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Ktistec and Streams free and open-source?
Yes. Ktistec is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Streams under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Ktistec and Streams with Docker?
Ktistec: check the project docs for container support. Streams: yes.