Side by side

diaspora* vs Pillar

Both stand on community platforms. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

diaspora*

Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb

diaspora* offers federated social networking with user-controlled sharing and open-source deployment. You can participate through an existing server or operate your own installation.

Visit diaspora*

Choose Pillar if you want a creator storefront that brings products, memberships, bookings, and audience marketing tools together. Review the plan pricing and seller fees before choosing a tier; the listed Creator plan has a 5% seller fee, while Entrepreneur lists 0%.

Visit Pillar

The facts

	diaspora*	Pillar
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Not published	Not published
Runs on	API, Self-hosted, Web	Android, iPhone, Web
Lowest paid plan	Free or on request	Creator: $29 a month
Plans published	1	4
Maker	Not published	Not published
Website	diasporafoundation.org	pillar.io
On community platforms	#41 of 126	#37 of 126

diaspora*: what it does well

Free and open-source under AGPL-3.0
Join through public servers without installation
Self-hosting guides are provided
Controls who can see shared content
Supports custom domains and moderation tools

What to know first

Self-hosting requires running your own server
XMPP chat integration was removed
Participation depends on connected servers

Pillar: what it does well

Sell downloads, courses, memberships, coaching, and custom requests.
Storefronts and landing pages have AI and drag-and-drop builders.
Marketing tools include email sequences and sales funnels.
Checkout supports Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Buy Now Pay Later.
Coaching bookings integrate with Zoom and Google Meet.

What to know first

The Creator plan charges a 5% seller fee.
The free trial lasts 3 days.
Direct sales through commerce links cannot include alcohol.

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