Mitra vs Phanpy
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted social networks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Mitra
Federated microblogging server with crypto integration
VS
Phanpy
Minimalistic opinionated Fediverse ⁂ web client
| Feature | Mitra | Phanpy |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Social Networks | Social Networks |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Rust | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 100 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 200 | ★ 1,492 |
| First released | 2021 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Twitter, Mastodon | Bluesky, Mastodon, Threads |
What are Mitra and Phanpy?
Mitra
Mitra is a lightweight, federated microblogging server written in Rust that implements ActivityPub. It is designed for small instances and includes optional integration with cryptocurrency-based features.
- Lightweight Rust server
- ActivityPub federation
- Small-instance focus
- Low resource usage
Phanpy
Minimalistic opinionated Fediverse ⁂ web client.
Mitra vs Phanpy: key differences
Mitra is written in Rust, while Phanpy is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Mitra versus MIT for Phanpy. Phanpy is the lighter option, starting around 100 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Mitra. Mitra is the more established project (first released 2021), while Phanpy arrived in 2024. Phanpy has the considerably larger community, at 1,492 GitHub stars versus 200. Mitra lists first-class Docker deployment; Phanpy does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Mitra if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Rust
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Choose Phanpy if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (1.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Mitra or Phanpy better?
Phanpy is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Mitra if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Mitra and Phanpy free and open-source?
Yes. Mitra is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Phanpy under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Mitra and Phanpy with Docker?
Mitra: yes. Phanpy: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Mitra or Phanpy?
Phanpy has the smaller minimum footprint at 100 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Mitra. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.