Open Source & Self-Hosted

Build your own social network

A powerful, feature-complete social networking platform. Self-hosted, open source, and fully customizable. Everything you need to create the next big community.

140+
Features
100%
Open Source
$0
License Cost

Everything you need to build a thriving community

More features than Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter combined. All in one self-hosted package.

Social & Feed

The core social experience

Rich Post Types

Text, photos, videos, polls, links with previews, location check-ins, feelings, and activities. Express yourself fully.

Threaded Comments

Nested comment threads with reactions, likes, and replies. Full conversation support on every post.

Emoji Reactions

Go beyond simple likes. React with a full range of emotions to posts, comments, and messages.

Post Sharing

Share posts with your own commentary. Full resharing support with original post attribution.

Stories

24-hour ephemeral content with polls, quizzes, Q&A, and more. Create highlights to keep your best moments.

Saved Posts

Bookmark posts to revisit later. Organize saves into collections for easy access.

Messaging

Real-time communication

Direct Messages

Private 1:1 conversations with message reactions and read receipts.

Group Chats

Create group conversations with multiple participants. Perfect for teams and friend groups.

Real-time Updates

Instant message delivery with live typing indicators and online status.

Groups & Communities

Build and manage communities

Privacy Options

Public, private, or secret groups. Control who can find and join your community.

Role Management

Admins, moderators, and members. Delegate responsibilities with granular permissions.

Group Feed

Dedicated activity feed for each group. Keep discussions organized and on-topic.

Content Types

Beyond simple posts

Events

Create events with RSVP, tickets, waitlists, and reminders. Full event management system.

Marketplace

Buy and sell within your community. Categories, conditions, pricing, and local listings.

Blog & Articles

Long-form content publishing. Write articles, tutorials, and blog posts.

Fundraisers

Create fundraising campaigns. Track donations and progress towards your goal.

Q&A / AMA

Ask and answer questions. Support for anonymous questions and profile Q&A.

Watch Parties

Watch videos together in sync. Real-time chat while watching with friends.

Monetization

Generate revenue from your platform

Virtual Coins

Built-in virtual currency system. Users can purchase coins and spend them on features.

Virtual Gifts

Send gifts to creators and friends. A fun way to support community members.

Verification

User verification system with ID verification support. Build trust in your community.

Everything you need to get started

Comprehensive guides, API documentation, and tutorials to help you build your community.

Getting Started

Quick start guide to get your community up and running in minutes.

  • Installation walkthrough
  • Web-based installer wizard
  • Database configuration
  • Admin account setup
Read the guide

Configuration

Customize every aspect of your social network to match your vision.

  • Environment settings
  • Feature toggles
  • Mail & queue setup
  • Storage configuration
View options

Admin Panel

Manage users, content, and settings from a powerful admin dashboard.

  • User management
  • Content moderation
  • Analytics & reports
  • Role permissions
Learn more

Security

Built-in security features to protect your community and users.

  • Two-factor authentication
  • Session management
  • API token security
  • Privacy controls
Security guide

API Reference

Build integrations with our RESTful API and webhook support.

  • RESTful endpoints
  • Token authentication
  • Webhook events
  • Rate limiting
API docs

Deployment

Production-ready deployment guides for any hosting environment.

  • Server requirements
  • SSL/HTTPS setup
  • Queue workers
  • Redis & caching
Deploy now
PHP
8.2 or higher
Laravel
12.x
Database
SQLite or MySQL
Node.js
18.x or higher
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/mrshanebarron/socialapparatus.git
cd socialapparatus

# Install dependencies
composer install
npm install && npm run build

# Start the server and visit /install
php artisan serve
# → Visit http://localhost:8000/install to begin setup

Why choose SocialApparatus?

See how we stack up against other social network solutions.

Feature
SocialApparatus
BuddyPress
Mastodon
Self-hosted
Stories
Marketplace
Events & RSVP
Virtual Currency
Modern UI
Fundraising
Web Installer

See it in action

Try the full platform without installing anything. Create an account and explore all features.

community.socialapparatus.com
Launch Demo Site

Free to explore. No credit card required.

Ready to build your community?

Get started with SocialApparatus today. It's free, open source, and yours to customize.