Side by side
Archive of Our Own vs Open Social
Both stand on online community platforms. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Web
AO3 offers free fanwork hosting with extensive search, filtering, and download options. Readers should know that account creation requires an invitation and mobile apps are not currently available.
Visit Archive of Our Own Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+2
Open Social offers a free community-management core as well as a broader SaaS suite with hosting and professional services. Teams should distinguish the free core from add-ons and SaaS features when considering their needs.
Visit Open SocialThe facts
| Archive of Our Own | Open Social | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Web | Android, API, iPhone, Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | archiveofourown.org | getopensocial.com |
| On online community platforms | #8 of 54 | #18 of 54 |
Archive of Our Own: what it does well
- Free to use and has no advertisements
- Searches by tags, authors, dates, and more
- Downloads available in five formats
- Site and work skins allow customization
What to know first
- An invitation is required to create an account
- Mobile apps are not currently available
- Downloads cannot be limited to individual chapters
Open Social: what it does well
- Free Drupal community core is available.
- Custom roles and permission structures are supported.
- Gaia AI helps with workflows and content moderation.
- Connection Hub supports GraphQL, webhooks, and Kafka.
- Native app add-on includes push notifications.
What to know first
- Branded native apps are an add-on.
- Document co-editing requires an add-on.
- SaaS pricing is available on request.
Alternatives to Archive of Our Own Alternatives to Open Social The whole list