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Open-source alternatives to Instagram

2 genuinely open-source alternatives. The projects are compared by license, workflow, self-hosting, and pricing.

Why look for a Instagram alternative?

Instagram combines photo and video sharing, Stories, Reels, messaging, followers, recommendations, and creator tools in a proprietary centralized platform. People look for alternatives when they want open-source software, chronological feeds, federation, independent hosting, greater control over moderation, and less dependence on Meta.

#1

Pixelfed

Federated photo-sharing social network built on ActivityPub.

Pixelfed is an AGPL-3.0 decentralized photo-sharing platform with profiles, followers, photo and video posts, likes, comments, hashtags, collections, Stories, direct messages, and federated feeds.

AGPL-3.0Self-hosted

Pricing: Free and open source under AGPL-3.0; hosting depends on the selected instance or your own infrastructure.

  • Closest open-source Instagram alternative
  • Chronological feeds and photo/video sharing
  • ActivityPub federation and self-hosting
  • Much smaller user base
  • Discovery is more fragmented
  • Instance quality and moderation vary
View on GitHub
#2

Loops

Federated open-source short-video platform for the Fediverse.

Loops is an AGPL-3.0 federated short-video platform built around vertical video and ActivityPub, providing an open-source alternative to Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts.

AGPL-3.0Self-hosted

Pricing: Free and open source; independent hosting and federation are available as the project evolves.

  • Open-source short-form video
  • ActivityPub federation
  • Independent hosting and community control
  • Younger than Instagram
  • Smaller creator community and catalog
  • Federation and discovery are still evolving
View on GitHub

Compare Instagram alternatives

ToolStarsLicenseSelf-hostedPricing
Pixelfed—AGPL-3.0YesFree and open source under AGPL-3.0; hosting depends on the selected instance or your own infrastructure.
Loops—AGPL-3.0YesFree and open source; independent hosting and federation are available as the project evolves.

Which one should you choose?

Want the closest open-source Instagram replacement

Pixelfed focuses on profiles, followers, photo and video posts, Stories, collections, hashtags, comments, and ActivityPub federation.

Pixelfed

Want an open-source alternative to Instagram Reels

Loops is built around federated vertical short-form video and participates in the ActivityPub ecosystem.

Loops

Want to self-host a social community

Pixelfed and Loops can be operated independently while connecting to the wider federated social web.

Pixelfed
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