PixelFed

Ethical photo sharing platform, powered by ActivityPub federation (alternative to Instagram).

GitHub stars
7,125
License
AGPL-3.0
Latest release
v0.14.5-rc1
7 October 2026
Last commit
11 October 2026
Runs on
PHP

Commits per month, last 12 months

3,825 commits

Replaces

Paid products PixelFed can stand in for.

How to self-host PixelFed

PixelFed runs on PHP. The project's own install guide is the place to start; most people put it on a small server with Docker and a reverse proxy for HTTPS.

  1. Get a server: a home server, a VPS, or a managed app host.
  2. Install it the way the project's docs describe, usually with Docker Compose.
  3. Put it behind HTTPS and set up backups before you add real data.
  4. Update it regularly. Watch the project's releases.

New to self-hosting? Start with the beginner's guide.

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Questions

Is PixelFed free?

Yes. PixelFed is open source under the AGPL-3.0 license, so you can use it without paying for a license. You pay only for the server it runs on.

Can I self-host PixelFed?

Yes. PixelFed runs on PHP. Follow the install guide in the project's documentation, or use a host that installs it for you.

What does PixelFed replace?

People use PixelFed instead of Flickr.

Is PixelFed still maintained?

The last change to PixelFed's code was on 11 October 2026, with 3825 commits in the last 12 months.

Topics

Communication - Social Networks and Forums

App data from awesome-selfhosted (CC BY-SA 3.0), stars and activity from GitHub.