5 Best Open Source Facebook Alternatives
A curated collection of the 5 best open source and self-hosted alternatives to Facebook in 2026.
Looking for a free, privacy-friendly, or self-hosted replacement for Facebook in 2026? The top open-source alternative is Mastodon — Decentralized social media platform.
Other highly rated open-source Facebook alternatives include Bluesky, Pixelfed and Loops.
Decentralized social media platform
Mastodon is a free and open-source decentralized social media platform that puts users in control of their experience. Unlike traditional social networks, Mastodon offers chronological feeds, no ads, and no algorithmic manipulation—just authentic connections. - Decentralized Network: Operates across independent servers (instances) that communicate with each other, allowing users to choose or host their own community. - Chronological Feeds: No algorithmic curation—see posts in real-time order as they were published. - Privacy & Control: Users own their data and can moderate their own communities with custom rules. - Cross-Server Following: Follow anyone on any Mastodon server from a single account. - Customizable Experience: Tailor your home feed to show only what matters to you. - Open Source: Fully transparent codebase available on GitHub for self-hosting or contributions. - No Ads or Tracking: Completely ad-free and designed to respect user privacy. - Moderation Tools: Each server sets its own rules, allowing for flexible and community-driven moderation. Mastodon is built with Ruby on Rails and PostgreSQL, making it easy to deploy on your own infrastructure. The platform supports Docker for simplified installation and scaling. Documentation and guides are available for hosting on various cloud providers or bare-metal servers. Multiple language clients and mobile apps are available for a seamless experience across devices.
Decentralized social network with custom feeds
Bluesky is a decentralized social network designed to give users control over their online presence. Built on the AT Protocol, it enables custom feeds, community-driven moderation, and a more transparent algorithm experience. - Custom Feeds: Create and follow personalized feeds tailored to your interests. - Decentralized Architecture: Operates on the AT Protocol, ensuring no single entity controls the network. - Community Moderation: Empowered users and communities to set their own moderation standards. - Privacy Focus: Prioritizes user privacy with no invasive tracking or data collection. - Open Source: The client and protocol are open-source, fostering transparency and collaboration. - Cross-Platform: Available on web, iOS, and Android for seamless access. Bluesky is built on the AT Protocol, which is open-source and designed for decentralization. While the official client is hosted by Bluesky, users can self-host their own instances or contribute to the protocol's development. The platform emphasizes user agency and data portability.
Decentralized photo sharing platform
Pixelfed is a decentralized, open-source photo and video sharing platform that prioritizes user privacy and community-driven moderation. Built on the ActivityPub protocol, it allows seamless interaction with other federated platforms like Mastodon and Akkoma. - Ad-free & Privacy-Friendly: No ads, no data selling, and full control over your content - Decentralized & Federated: Join any Pixelfed server or host your own with complete autonomy - Chronological Feeds: No algorithmic manipulation of your content - Albums & Stories: Share multiple photos in albums or ephemeral stories - Direct Messages: Private conversations with followers-only messaging - Advanced Privacy Controls: Unlisted posts, follower approvals, muting, blocking, and reporting - Cross-Platform Interaction: Follow and interact with users on other ActivityPub platforms - Mobile Apps: Native iOS and Android applications for on-the-go sharing Pixelfed is built with PHP, Laravel, and ActivityPub protocol. It can be self-hosted on any server with PHP 8.1+ and MySQL/PostgreSQL support. The platform provides comprehensive installation guides and is actively maintained by a global community of contributors. Installation Guide GitHub Repository
Federated open-source short-video platform
Loops is a federated, open-source short-video platform designed to give power back to creators and communities. Built on ActivityPub, it allows users to share videos across compatible fediverse apps while maintaining control over their home server. - Vertical swipe short-video feed – Built for thumb-first browsing with a calm chronological Following feed and a For You feed powered by real engagement signals. - Creator-first camera – Minimal camera interface for capturing vertical loops with quick posting and lens switching. - Threaded conversations – Rich comment threads with replies, likes, and @mentions to keep discussions anchored to videos. - Federated engagement – Likes, shares, reposts, and comment likes travel across the fediverse, enhancing discovery. - Hashtag & search discovery – Tag loops with hashtags and search profiles or videos to find your corner of the fediverse. - Privacy-respecting notifications – Control what pings you, with push notification support coming soon. - ActivityPub compatibility – Connect with Mastodon, Pixelfed, and other fediverse apps while staying in control of your server. - No ads or tracking – Ethical design principles prioritize user privacy over advertising revenue. Loops is open-source and can be self-hosted. The platform is built on ActivityPub, making it interoperable with other federated services. For developers, starter kits and documentation are available to help set up and customize instances. - GitHub Repository: joinloops/loops-server - Starter Kits: joinloops.org/starter-kits - Documentation: joinloops.org/features
Instantly share files peer-to-peer across devices
PairDrop is a simple, secure, and open-source solution for transferring files instantly between devices. No accounts, no complex setup, and no data storage—just direct peer-to-peer transfers. - Cross-platform support: Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and web browsers - No setup required: Instantly share files without creating accounts or installing apps - Peer-to-peer transfers: Files are sent directly between devices using WebRTC - Multiple transfer methods: Pair devices permanently, use temporary public rooms, or scan QR codes - Supports various file types: Share images, videos, PDFs, documents, and text messages - Multi-language support: Available in 30+ languages - Auto-accept files: Configure devices to automatically accept incoming files - Open source: Fully transparent codebase available on GitHub PairDrop is a client-side web application that uses WebRTC for direct peer-to-peer transfers. The official website acts as a signaling server only to establish connections, and no files are stored on servers. For self-hosting, the project provides complete instructions on GitHub for deploying your own instance.
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