diaspora* is a free, open-source, decentralized social network run on independent pods. Learn its history, how it works, privacy model, and alternatives.
Category
Community Platforms
Pricing
Free/Open Source, from Free
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 18, 2026
Founded
2010
Headquarters
Decentralized; Diaspora Foundation, USA
Free PlanWeb AppAPIOpen SourceSelf-Hosted
Overview
diaspora* is a free, open-source, decentralized social network made up of independently run servers called pods that interoperate so users can connect across the entire network regardless of which pod they join.
Founded in 2010 by four NYU students after a Kickstarter campaign raised over $200,000, the project is now governed by the nonprofit diaspora* Foundation rather than a corporation.
Key Features
diaspora*'s 'Aspects' feature lets users group contacts and control exactly which group sees each post, offering more granular privacy than a simple public/private toggle.
The platform has no advertising, no algorithmic feed, and no data-harvesting business model, showing posts in reverse-chronological order instead.
Pricing
diaspora* is entirely free to use; anyone can join an existing pod or run their own pod using the open-source, AGPL-3.0-licensed software.
There are no subscription tiers, premium features, or advertising-based monetization, consistent with its nonprofit, community-governed structure.
Key Features
Federated pod network — Independently run servers called pods interoperate so users on different pods can still follow and interact with each other.
Aspects-based privacy control — Users group contacts into Aspects and choose exactly which group sees each individual post.
No advertising or data harvesting — The platform has no ad-targeting business model and does not sell or exploit user data.
Reverse-chronological feed — Posts appear in chronological order rather than through an engagement-optimized algorithm.
Open-source, self-hostable software — Anyone can run their own pod using the publicly available Ruby on Rails codebase.
Cross-pod interaction — Users can follow, message, and interact with accounts on entirely different pods, similar to federated email.
API access for third-party clients — Since version 0.9.0.0, an API layer supports third-party and mobile client applications.
Democratic governance — Project decisions are made transparently through community voting on the Loomio platform.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Completely free with no ads, tracking, or data-harvesting business model
Decentralized architecture means no single company can shut down or control the network
Fully open-source, allowing anyone to audit, self-host, or modify the software
Cons
Smaller, less active user base compared to mainstream social networks
Choosing and trusting a pod adds friction compared to signing up for a single centralized service
Slower feature development pace as a volunteer-run, non-commercial project
Network effects favor larger platforms, limiting mainstream discovery and growth
Pricing
Free Free N/A
Frequently Asked Questions
What is diaspora*?
diaspora* is a free, open-source, decentralized social network made up of independently run servers called pods that let users interact across the whole network.
Is diaspora* free to use?
Yes, diaspora* is entirely free, with no subscription plans, advertising, or premium tiers.
Who created diaspora*?
diaspora* was founded in 2010 by four NYU students: Ilya Zhitomirskiy, Dan Grippi, Max Salzberg, and Raphael Sofaer, after a successful Kickstarter campaign.
What is a 'pod' in diaspora*?
A pod is an independently owned and operated server running the diaspora* software; pods communicate with each other so users on different pods can still connect.
Who runs diaspora* today?
diaspora* is governed by the nonprofit diaspora* Foundation, part of the Free Software Support Network, using democratic community decision-making.
How is diaspora* different from Facebook?
Unlike Facebook, diaspora* has no central owner, no advertising, no algorithmic feed, and gives users granular control over who sees each post via Aspects.