Top pick · highest health
Misskey
Decentralized app-like microblogging server/SNS for the Fediverse, using the ActivityPub protocol like GNU social and Mastodon.
DockerNodejs
Communication - Social Networks and Forums
Open source alternatives to Twitter
We track 8 open-source Twitter alternatives, of which 6 currently score 70 or above on Repoly's GitHub health scale and 4 ship a Docker image. Misskey leads on health at 96/100 with 158 commits in the last 90 days; across all 8 projects you are choosing between AGPL-3.0, MIT.
updated Oct 2026 8 alternatives best health 96 ★ 78k combined 2,258 commits / 90d 4 with Docker
Top picks to replace Twitter
Showing 8 of 8 tools
All 8 Twitter alternatives, ranked by health
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GoToSocial
ActivityPub federated social network server implementing the Mastodon client API.
DockerGo -
fx
Micro-blog tool offering built-in syntax highlighting, mobile publishing and more (alternative to Twitter, Bluesky).
Docker -
Mastodon
Federated microblogging server.
Ruby -
Friendica
Social Communication Server.
PHP -
Akkoma
Federated microblogging server with Mastodon, GNU social, and ActivityPub compatibility.
DockerElixir -
Pleroma
Federated microblogging server, Mastodon, GNU social, & ActivityPub compatible.
Elixir -
diaspora*
Distributed social networking server.
Ruby
Twitter alternatives compared
Misskey edges GoToSocial 96 to 91, and most of the difference is stars: 11k stars against 692 stars. Mastodon has the largest following at 50k stars, yet ranks #4 of 8, held back mostly by Docker support (no Docker image).
The most recent release is Mastodon v4.7.4, published yesterday. None of the measured options scores under 40. By stack, Elixir (2), Ruby (2) and Go (1) are the most common. fx is permissively licensed; Misskey, GoToSocial, Mastodon and 4 more are copyleft.
| Tool | Health | Stars | Licence | Last commit | Docker |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Misskey Steady at 96 since 11 Sep | 96 | 11k | AGPL-3.0 | today | Yes |
| GoToSocial Up 35 points since 27 Sep | 91 | 692 | AGPL-3.0 | today | Yes |
| fx Up 28 points since 11 Sep | 90 | 335 | MIT | 5 days ago | Yes |
| Mastodon Steady at 89 since 11 Sep | 89 | 50k | AGPL-3.0 | today | No |
| Friendica Steady at 83 since 11 Sep, no release for 5 months | 83 | 1.7k | AGPL-3.0 | today | No |
| Akkoma | 83 | 71 | AGPL-3.0 | 25 days ago | Yes |
| Pleroma | 68 | 6 | AGPL-3.0 | yesterday | No |
| diaspora* | 50 | 14k | AGPL-3.0 | 3 months ago | No |
Twitter alternatives: common questions
What is the most maintained open source alternative to Twitter?
Misskey scores highest at 96/100, with 158 commits in the last 90 days, 11k stars on GitHub and its latest release (2026.10.1) published 7 days ago. Mastodon has the most raw commit activity at 918 commits in 90 days.
Which Twitter alternatives use a permissive licence?
1 of 8 are permissively licensed (MIT, Apache, BSD or similar): fx (MIT). 7 use copyleft licences such as GPL or AGPL, which require you to publish changes if you distribute a modified version.
Which Twitter alternatives run in Docker?
4 of 8 publish a Docker image or Compose file: Misskey, GoToSocial, fx, Akkoma. Docker support contributes 10 of the 100 available health points, because it is the clearest signal that self-hosting is a supported path rather than an afterthought.
Is Misskey or GoToSocial the better Twitter alternative?
On measured health Misskey leads, 96 to 91. Misskey has 158 commits in 90 days, 11k stars and 2026.10.1 from 7 days ago; GoToSocial has 44 commits in 90 days, 692 stars and v0.22.3 from 9 days ago. Misskey is ahead or level on every term Repoly measures.
Are the Twitter alternatives still maintained?
6 of the 8 measured options score 70 or above. diaspora* had no commits in the last 90 days. None scores under 40.
What languages are the Twitter alternatives written in?
Elixir: Akkoma and Pleroma. Ruby: Mastodon and diaspora*. Go: GoToSocial. The stack matters if you plan to extend or patch the tool yourself.
