Smithereen 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?
Smithereen
Federated social network with a familiar layout
VS
Streams
Decentralized social server with nomadic identity
| Feature | Smithereen | Streams |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Social Networks | Social Networks |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Java | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 547 | ★ 100 |
| First released | 2020 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Facebook, VK | Facebook, Mastodon |
Why pick each one
Choose Smithereen if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Java
Choose Streams if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in PHP
Frequently asked questions
Is Smithereen or Streams better?
Smithereen 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 Smithereen and Streams free and open-source?
Yes. Smithereen is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Streams under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Smithereen and Streams with Docker?
Smithereen: yes. Streams: yes.