Hubzilla

Name: Hubzilla
Author: Hubzilla

Free plan AndroidLinuxSelf-hostedWeb

What Hubzilla is

Hubzilla is a free, open source platform for creating interconnected websites with decentralized identity, communications, and permission controls. It can support social communities, websites, forums, wikis, blogs, membership sites, and RSS or Atom feed reading. Federation connects Hubzilla with ActivityPub, Diaspora, and Nomad/Zot networks. Channels can publish blogs, webpages, and wikis using HTML, BBCode, or Markdown. Files and other content can be shared publicly, privately, or with restricted access, with permissions applied to posts, pages, images, files, groups, and other material. Nomadic Identity allows channels to be cloned or backed up, then moved with their identity and content to another server while keeping a synchronized backup. Content filtering and blocking tools help control what users see, and Magic Sign On provides federated single sign-on. Themes, addons, and widgets extend or customize installations. Users can join an existing community or operate their own server through managed hosting or self-hosting. Hubzilla supports Linux and web access, lists Android client apps, and can be installed as a progressive web app from a Hubzilla hub webpage. Self-hosting requires PHP 8.1 or higher, a supported MySQL, MariaDB, or PostgreSQL database, a web server, cron, and a top-level domain or subdomain.

Who it suits

Hubzilla suits individuals, organizations, communities, and site administrators who want federated publishing, social features, and detailed audience controls. It is also appropriate for people who want either to join an existing community or run a managed or self-hosted server.

What it does well

Free and open source under the MIT license
Supports communities, forums, blogs, wikis, and membership sites
Federates with ActivityPub, Diaspora, and Nomad/Zot
Provides granular public, private, and restricted permissions
Nomadic Identity supports cloning and migration
Android clients and progressive web app access

What to know first

Self-hosting requires PHP 8.1 or higher and a database
Installation requires a web server and cron
Self-hosting must use a top-level domain or subdomain
Stored-message encryption is cautioned as not completely secure

Limits

The free plan is self-hosted software, so the listed server requirements apply: PHP 8.1 or higher, a supported database, web server, cron, and a top-level domain or subdomain.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Hubzilla	Free and open source · Self-hosted software; server requirements apply	Free

As hubzilla.org lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Open the Hubzilla website
Join an existing community or choose managed hosting
For self-hosting, prepare PHP 8.1 or higher
Provide MySQL, MariaDB, or PostgreSQL, a web server, and cron
Install on a top-level domain or subdomain
Access the hub through the web, an Android client, or its progressive web app

Verdict

Choose Hubzilla for a free, open source platform combining federated social functions, publishing, storage, and portable identity. Its permission controls and hosting choices suit communities and administrators who need control over audiences and infrastructure. Look elsewhere if your hosting environment cannot meet its PHP, database, web-server, cron, and domain requirements.

Questions

How much does Hubzilla cost?

Hubzilla is free. The listed plan is free.

Is Hubzilla open source?

Yes. It is licensed under the MIT license.

Which platforms are supported?

Hubzilla supports Android, Linux, self-hosted deployments, and the web.

Can I run my own Hubzilla server?

Yes. You can use managed hosting or self-hosting, or join an existing community.

Does Hubzilla support federation?

Yes. It supports ActivityPub, Diaspora, and Nomad/Zot social networks.

What does self-hosting require?

Self-hosting requires PHP 8.1 or higher, MySQL, MariaDB, or PostgreSQL, a web server, cron, and installation on a top-level domain or subdomain.

Facts from Hubzilla's own pages

Access controls: Hubzilla provides permission settings for public and private content, including posts, pages, images, and files. · hubzilla.org, 11 Oct 2026
Association: The Hubzilla Association supports software development, promotion, distribution, documentation, the website, and support forums. · hubzilla.org, 11 Oct 2026
Cloud storage: Users can share files with public, private, or restricted access permissions. · hubzilla.org, 11 Oct 2026
Custom domain: Yes · hubzilla.org, 20 Sept 2026
Encryption: The documentation says private messages are stored encrypted, channels use RSA 4096-bit keys, and optional end-to-end encryption is available; it cautions that stored-message encryption is not completely secure. · hubzilla.org, 12 Oct 2026
Event hosting: Yes · hubzilla.org, 20 Sept 2026
Extensibility: Hubzilla can be extended with addons, themes, and widgets, with separate official repositories for core software, addons, and widgets. · hubzilla.org, 12 Oct 2026
Federation: The site says Hubzilla connects with Fediverse services including Mastodon, Misskey, and PeerTube via ActivityPub, Diaspora, and other protocols. · hubzilla.org, 12 Oct 2026
Founded: 2010 · hubzilla.org, 28 Sept 2026
Free plan: Yes · hubzilla.org, 20 Sept 2026
Hosting options: Users can join an existing community or run their own server, including managed hosting or self-hosting. · hubzilla.org, 11 Oct 2026
Hosting requirements: Self-hosting requires PHP 8.1 or higher, a supported MySQL, MariaDB, or PostgreSQL database, a web server, and cron; installation must use a top-level domain or subdomain. · hubzilla.org, 12 Oct 2026
Identity portability: Nomadic Identity lets users clone or back up channels and migrate identities and content to another server. · hubzilla.org, 11 Oct 2026
Integrations: The documentation describes RSS/Atom importing, cross-post connectors, Diaspora and GNU Social protocol plugins, and a third-party API with OAuth access. · hubzilla.org, 12 Oct 2026
Intended users: The project describes Hubzilla as suitable for individuals, organizations, communities, and site administrators, with options to join a community or run a server. · hubzilla.org, 12 Oct 2026
License: Hubzilla is licensed under the MIT license. · hubzilla.org, 11 Oct 2026
Maker: The Hubzilla Association supports development, promotion, and distribution of the software and says it was founded on November 29, 2023. · hubzilla.org, 12 Oct 2026
Mobile: Hubzilla can be installed as a progressive web app, and the site lists Android apps for posting and accessing Hubzilla. · hubzilla.org, 12 Oct 2026
Mobile access: Hubzilla can be installed as a progressive web app from a Hubzilla hub webpage, and the site lists Android client apps. · hubzilla.org, 11 Oct 2026
Mobile apps: android · hubzilla.org, 20 Sept 2026
Moderation tools: Yes · hubzilla.org, 20 Sept 2026
Nomadic identity: Users can transfer or clone an identity to another server and keep a synchronized backup. · hubzilla.org, 12 Oct 2026
Privacy controls: Access controls can restrict posts, files, groups, pages, and other content to selected audiences. · hubzilla.org, 12 Oct 2026
Private spaces: Yes · hubzilla.org, 20 Sept 2026

Where Hubzilla stands on Freedom251

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