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Dreamwidth
What Dreamwidth is
Dreamwidth is a community-centered journal service for sharing writing, artwork, and thoughts, and for meeting others with similar interests. Its shared journals, called communities, let multiple people post and discuss topics or personal interests. Journal entries can be public, private, or limited to an access list, with custom filters also available. Public entries can be read by people without accounts, search engines, and RSS readers; copies may remain even after deletion. Dreamwidth says it is committed to remaining ad-free and relies on user payments to keep the site running. Free accounts include 15 icon slots, 500 MB of image hosting, and one crosspost destination. Paid accounts add options such as full-text journal search, polls, custom mood themes, and extra notifications. Personal journal imports are available from LiveJournal and InsaneJournal. Crossposting is limited to LiveJournal clone sites and personal accounts, not communities or services such as WordPress, Blogger, and TypePad. The service supports web access and API clients, though some client features may not work.
Who it suits
Dreamwidth suits people who want a journal for creative posts and discussions in shared communities. Its access settings may appeal to users who want to choose which entries are public or restricted.
What it does well
- Communities allow multiple users to post and discuss.
- Entries offer public, private, and access-list settings.
- Free accounts include 500 MB of image hosting.
- Personal journals can be imported from LiveJournal and InsaneJournal.
What to know first
- Public entries may be seen by search engines and RSS readers.
- Copies of public entries may persist after deletion.
- Crossposting excludes communities and non-clone services.
- Some third-party client features may not work.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paid account - 1 month | Paid account features | $3 a month |
| Paid account - 2 months | Paid account features | $6 a month |
| Paid account - 6 months | Paid account features | $17.50 a month |
| Paid account - 12 months | Paid account features | $35 a year |
| Premium paid account - 6 months | Higher paid-account limits and levels | $25 a month |
| Premium paid account - 12 months | Higher paid-account limits and levels | $50 a year |
| Free account | 15 icon slots · 500 MB image hosting · 1 crosspost destination | Free |
| Paid account | 175 Dreamwidth Points ($17.50 USD) for 6 months · 150 icon slots · 1.5 GB image hosting · up to 3 crosspost destinations | $17.50 a month |
The first 8 of 11 plans, as dreamwidth.org lists them, read 22 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word. Every plan
Verdict
Dreamwidth combines personal journaling with shared communities, entry privacy settings, and an ad-free model. Check its public-entry caveat and crossposting limits before choosing it for content or services beyond LiveJournal clones.
Facts from Dreamwidth's own pages
- Ad-free
- Dreamwidth says it is committed to remaining ad-free and relies on user payments to keep the site running. · dreamwidth.org, 11 Oct 2026
- API clients
- Third-party clients can connect using a generated API key, though Dreamwidth warns some client features may not work and its compatible-client list may be outdated. · dreamwidth.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Blog analytics
- Yes · dreamwidth.org, 22 Sept 2026
- Communities
- Communities are shared journals where multiple users can post and discuss topics or personal interests. · dreamwidth.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Company
- Dreamwidth Studios is operated by Dreamwidth Studios, LLC, which the company describes as a privately owned Maryland-registered LLC incorporated in 2008. · dw-news.dreamwidth.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · dreamwidth.org, 22 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- Crossposting supports LiveJournal clone sites such as DeadJournal and InsaneJournal; the FAQ says Wordpress, Blogger, and TypePad are not supported. · dreamwidth.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Journal import
- Personal journal imports are supported from LiveJournal and InsaneJournal, with profile data, entries, comments, tags, icons, and custom groups among the selectable content. · dreamwidth.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Notable limit
- Dreamwidth's crossposter only supports LiveJournal clone sites and personal accounts, not communities or non-clone services such as Wordpress, Blogger, and TypePad. · dreamwidth.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Paid features
- Paid accounts add features including personal full-text journal search, polls, custom mood themes, and extra notifications. · dreamwidth.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Privacy controls
- Journal entries can be set to Public, Private, or Access List only, with custom filters also available. · dreamwidth.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Privacy limitation
- Dreamwidth staff may need to view account contents to troubleshoot technical problems, investigate possible Terms of Service violations, or address legal compliance issues. · dreamwidth.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Public content
- Public entries can be viewed by anyone, including people without accounts, search engines, and RSS readers; Dreamwidth warns copies may persist after deletion. · dreamwidth.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Dreamwidth is a community-centered home for creative artists to share writing, artwork, and thoughts, find others with similar interests, and participate in communities. · dreamwidth.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Security
- Dreamwidth says account information is password-protected and transmissions between users' computers and Dreamwidth use industry-standard encryption. · dreamwidth.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- Dreamwidth provides a support area and FAQs for help using the service. · dreamwidth.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Theme customization
- custom code · dreamwidth.org, 22 Sept 2026
Where Dreamwidth stands on Freedom251
- Blogging Platforms#40 of 125