Smithereen review
A federated social network with walls and group boards, for people willing to host it.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Smithereen is open-source server software for running a social network that connects with other fediverse servers. It suits individuals and groups who want profiles and walls in a decentralized network, and who are prepared to operate their own server. Members can share posts, photos, and comments, communicate privately, and use group discussion boards. The website describes the network as having no algorithmic feeds or ads.
Its main distinction is the combination of ActivityPub federation with familiar social features: user and group profiles, wall posts, comments, reposts, photo albums, and private messaging. Groups also get discussion boards, so Smithereen can serve more than a public-posting feed. This breadth is useful for communities that want conversations and shared media alongside cross-server interaction. It is less suited to someone seeking only a lightweight posting client or a ready-made hosted social account.
Operating Smithereen involves infrastructure rather than signing up for a vendor-hosted plan. It can be installed on a server with a Java virtual machine or run with Docker; hosting requires a public IP address and domain. Administrators manage the server through a web interface, and uploaded media can use S3-compatible storage. The documented platform is web-only, and documentation is the listed support channel. Choose Smithereen if control over a federated community and its group spaces matters enough to take on hosting. Those who need an official mobile app or do not want to maintain server infrastructure should look elsewhere.
Smithereen pros and cons
- Where it wins
- ActivityPub federation connects with other fediverse servers
- Profiles, walls, comments, reposts, photo albums, and messaging
- Group discussion boards plus Docker and S3-compatible media storage
- Where it doesn't
- Requires self-hosting, a public IP address, and a domain
- Web-only; official mobile app availability is not established
- Documentation is the only listed support channel
Smithereen fact sheet, pricing and score →
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