Mastodon vs PeerTube search-index
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?
Mastodon
Decentralized open-source microblogging server
VS
PeerTube search-index
Search engine for PeerTube videos and channels
| Feature | Mastodon | PeerTube search-index |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Social Networks | Social Networks |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0-only |
| Language | Ruby | |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 2,000 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 50,177 | — |
| First released | 2016 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Twitter, X | — |
Why pick each one
Choose PeerTube search-index if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0-only license
Frequently asked questions
Is Mastodon or PeerTube search-index better?
Neither is universally better. Mastodon has the larger community, while PeerTube search-index is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Mastodon and PeerTube search-index free and open-source?
Yes. Mastodon is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and PeerTube search-index under AGPL-3.0-only. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Mastodon and PeerTube search-index with Docker?
Mastodon: yes. PeerTube search-index: check the project docs for container support.