Uncovering the Best Open Social Alternatives for Your Online Community

Open Social is a robust open-source community software built on Drupal 8, designed to help you create vibrant online communities for sharing knowledge, collaboration, and event organization. While Open Social offers a powerful foundation for building your online presence, specific needs or preferences might lead you to explore other options. This article delves into the top Open Social alternatives that can help you achieve your community-building goals.

Top Open Social Alternatives

Whether you're prioritizing privacy, specific features, or a different platform base, there's an Open Social alternative out there for you. Let's explore some of the leading contenders.

Diaspora

Diaspora is a federated social networking service that emphasizes privacy, offering a more secure alternative to traditional social media. As a free and open-source platform available on Linux, Web, BSD, and self-hosted environments, it's an excellent Open Social alternative for those prioritizing decentralization, encrypted connections, and a privacy-focused social network with ActivityPub support.

Minds

Minds is a free and open-source platform that allows users to launch their digital brand, social network, and mobile app. It's a global social network available on Web, Android, and iPhone, offering features like free speech, anti-censorship, encrypted chat, and gamification, making it a strong Open Social alternative for those seeking a secure and freedom-oriented community platform.

Gab

Gab is a social network that champions free speech and individual liberty. It is a freemium and open-source option available on Web, Android, and self-hosted environments. As an Open Social alternative, Gab offers features such as live topics, ad-free experience, decentralization, and content creator support, appealing to users who prioritize uncensored information flow and community-driven content.

GNU social, a continuation of the StatusNet project, is free and open-source social communication software designed for both public and private use. Being self-hosted and featuring decentralization and an ad-free experience, GNU social provides a straightforward PHP-based Open Social alternative for those looking for a minimalist and open platform.

Friendica

Friendica is a distributed social network with a strong focus on decentralization, privacy, and interoperability. As a free and open-source PHP-based platform for Linux, BSD, and self-hosted environments, it's an excellent Open Social alternative, offering features like federated networking, Diaspora and Twitter integration, group messaging, and community events.

HumHub

HumHub is a free and open-source social network software and framework that simplifies teamwork. Available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, BSD, and self-hosted, HumHub is a lightweight yet powerful Open Social alternative that includes features like intranet functionality, real-time collaboration, and task management, making it ideal for team-focused communities.

Okuna

Okuna (formerly Openbook) is an open-source, secure social network committed to zero tracking, spying, and advertisements. Available for free on Web and Android, Okuna is an appealing Open Social alternative for users who prioritize an ethical and privacy-conscious social networking experience, with the added benefit of a portion of its revenue going towards positive social impact.

BuddyPress

BuddyPress transforms your WordPress site into a social network, making it incredibly flexible for creating communities for companies, schools, or niche groups. As a free and open-source self-hosted solution built on WordPress, BuddyPress offers a familiar and extendable Open Social alternative for those already comfortable with the WordPress ecosystem.

Open Source Social Network (OSSN) is a social networking software written in PHP, enabling you to create your own social networking website. As a free and open-source self-hosted platform for Linux, OSSN provides a straightforward Open Social alternative focused on helping members build and connect within a customizable social environment.

MeWe

MeWe, formerly Sgrouples, positions itself as "The World's Private Communication Network." Available for free on Web, Android, and iPhone, MeWe is a strong Open Social alternative for those prioritizing privacy and a non-algorithmic feed, offering features like encrypted chat, cloud storage, no filter bubble, and granular stream ordering control.

Ultimately, the best Open Social alternative for you will depend on your specific needs regarding features, privacy concerns, platform preferences, and technical expertise. Explore these options to find the perfect fit for building your ideal online community.