Misago vs WriteFreely
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?
| Feature | Misago | WriteFreely |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Social Networks | Social Networks |
| License | GPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,774 | ★ 5,216 |
| First released | 2016 | 2018 |
| Replaces | phpBB, Discourse | Medium, Tumblr |
Why pick each one
Frequently asked questions
Is Misago or WriteFreely better?
WriteFreely is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Misago if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Misago and WriteFreely free and open-source?
Yes. Misago is licensed under GPL-2.0 and WriteFreely under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Misago and WriteFreely with Docker?
Misago: yes. WriteFreely: yes.