Mitra vs Sharkey
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
Sharkey
Feature-rich Misskey fork for the fediverse
| Feature | Mitra | Sharkey |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Social Networks | Social Networks |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Rust | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 200 | ★ 600 |
| First released | 2021 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Twitter, Mastodon | Twitter, Mastodon |
What are Mitra and Sharkey?
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
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
Mitra vs Sharkey: key differences
Mitra is written in Rust, while Sharkey is built with TypeScript. Mitra is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Sharkey. Mitra is the more established project (first released 2021), while Sharkey arrived in 2023. Sharkey has the considerably larger community, at 600 GitHub stars versus 200.
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 Sharkey if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in TypeScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Mitra 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 Mitra and Sharkey free and open-source?
Yes. Mitra is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Sharkey under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Mitra and Sharkey with Docker?
Mitra: yes. Sharkey: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Mitra or Sharkey?
Mitra has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Sharkey. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.