Lobsters
Lobsters: A focused, open-source home for curated links, threaded discussion, and moderation. Ranked #20 of 54 in Online Community Platforms by our editors (7.0/10); pricing: Free; best for curated link and discussion communities.
At a glance
- Editor score7.0 / 10
- PricingFree
- Best forCurated link and discussion communities
- Paid fromFree
- Founded2012
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Threaded discussions, voting, tags, feeds, and full-text search
- Invitation controls and a moderation review queue
- Free, open-source software with web and self-hosted options
Where it doesn't
- Its focus is specialized around computing-related link communities
- The mobile experience is a responsive web app, not a separate mobile app
- Registration is controlled through an invitation tree
Our verdict on Lobsters
Lobsters is a computing-focused online community built around link aggregation and discussion. Members submit stories, apply predefined tags, vote on content, filter tags, and participate in threaded comments. Private messaging, public RSS feeds, integrated full-text search, and responsive design for phones and tablets extend the core discussion experience. It is suited to communities that want a curated, topic-focused place for sharing links rather than a broad social network or general-purpose community platform.
Its strongest area is community curation. Invitation-tree registration controls access, while flagging, documented moderation workflows, public moderation actions, and a moderation review queue support active oversight. Story merging and duplicate-link detection help keep related submissions organized. Tag filtering, voting, story ranking, and search give members several ways to navigate the discussion archive. Private messaging includes email and Pushover notifications, and Mastodon is listed as an integration. These capabilities make Lobsters a fit for communities where discussion quality, topic organization, and visible moderation matter.
Lobsters is free and open-source, with web and self-hosted platforms. Its source code and deployment configuration are publicly available under a 3-clause BSD license. The published product details emphasize a responsive website rather than separate mobile apps, so communities seeking native mobile applications should look elsewhere. Lobsters also stays deliberately specialized: its computing focus and link-centered format may not suit organizations wanting event management, broad member directories, or a multi-purpose collaboration suite. Choose it for a focused, moderated link community with self-hosting flexibility; choose an alternative when the community needs a wider platform scope or native mobile apps.
Your product? Our editors can test Lobsters in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Lobsters pricing
Lobsters fact sheet
| Free plan | Not verified |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Member limit | Not verified |
| Moderation tools | Advanced |
| Private groups | Not verified |
| Direct messaging | Yes |
| Custom domain | Not verified |
| Mobile apps | Web app |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Community |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 2 integrations: Pushover, Mastodon |
| Pricing | Free |
| Website | lobste.rs |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Lobsters integrations
Lobsters lists 2 integrations on its own site.
- Pushover
- Mastodon
Alternatives to Lobsters
- DiscourseA flexible discussion hub with chat, moderation, private spaces, and self-hosting.9.4
- RedditA free platform for topic-based communities with built-in moderation and events.9.2
- Invision CommunityA broad community suite for established forums that need content, groups, events, and monetization.9.0
See all Lobsters alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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