Hollo is a single-user, headless microblogging server that joins the fediverse and exposes Mastodon-compatible APIs for existing clients.
2 alternatives
2 best open-source alternatives to Mastodon (2026)
Looking for a free, open-source alternative to Mastodon? These 2 projects can replace it. Each one passed our quality screening and is explained in plain words, so you can compare stars, license and maintenance at a glance.
Quick comparison
| Project | Stars | License | Last commit |
|---|---|---|---|
| fedify-dev/hollo | ★ 496 | AGPL-3.0 | 6 days ago |
| toddsundsted/ktistec | ★ 435 | AGPL-3.0 | yesterday |
49658TypeScriptAGPL-3.0Well maintainedUpdated 6 days ago
A lightweight ActivityPub server for individual users and small trusted groups, using SQLite instead of a multi-service stack.
43522CrystalAGPL-3.0Updated yesterday
FAQ
- Is there a free, open-source alternative to Mastodon?
- Yes. The most popular open-source alternatives to Mastodon on Repolode are hollo, ktistec.
- Which Mastodon alternative should I choose?
- hollo has the most GitHub stars and is released under AGPL-3.0. Compare the license and last commit of each option in the table above before choosing.
How this list is made: AI reads each project's documentation to match it with products it can replace, every project passes our quality screening, and the list is ranked by GitHub stars. Stars updated Nov 7, 2026. How Repolode works