Skip to content
appsgit

diaspora*

Distributed social networking server.

github.com/diaspora/diaspora

GitHub stats

GitHub stars
13,645
Forks
2,865
Open issues
408
Commits, last 12 months
119
Last commit
Jul 28, 2026
Latest release
v0.9.1.0Apr 7, 2026
Created
Sep 15, 2010

Data from the GitHub API, refreshed daily.

About diaspora*

Distributed social networking server. diaspora* is open source under the AGPL-3.0 license and written mainly in Ruby, so you can read the code, run it on your own hardware and keep full control of your data.

The project has 13,645 stars and 2,865 forks on GitHub, with 119 commits over the last year. It installs natively rather than through an official Docker image, so plan for a short manual setup.

Topics

  • ruby
  • rails
  • social-network
  • federated
  • distributed
  • decentralized
  • hacktoberfest

Open-source alternative to

diaspora* can replace these commercial products. Compare every option on each page.

Repository preview

diaspora* repository previewdiaspora/diasporaOpen repository

FAQ

diaspora* FAQ

Still curious? Email info@appsgit.com.

What is diaspora*?

diaspora* is a free, open-source app you can host on your own server, listed in our Social & Forums category. Distributed social networking server. The source code lives at github.com/diaspora/diaspora, where it has 13,645 stars.

Is diaspora* free and open source?

Yes. diaspora* is open-source software released under the AGPL-3.0 license, so you can self-host it at no cost. You only pay for the server it runs on, and some projects also offer an optional paid cloud plan.

Can I run diaspora* with Docker?

diaspora* does not list an official Docker image. It installs natively (Ruby), so follow the install steps in its README or look for a community-maintained container.

What are the best alternatives to diaspora*?

Popular open-source alternatives to diaspora* include Mastodon, Discourse and Flarum. diaspora* itself is a self-hosted alternative to Twitter / X.

Is diaspora* actively maintained?

The most recent commit to diaspora* was on Jul 28, 2026 with 119 commits in the past twelve months. The latest release is v0.9.1.0, published Apr 7, 2026. Check the open issues on GitHub to gauge how quickly maintainers respond.