OSSN

Self-Hosted

Open-source social networking platform for self-hosted communities

Overview

OSSN is a self-hosted social networking platform enabling users to build private or public communities. It offers core social features like user profiles, photo/video sharing, groups, messaging, and activity feeds. Customizable via plugins/themes, it runs on PHP (compatible with most web hosts) and can be deployed via Docker or LAMP stacks. Ideal for organizations, schools, or niche groups wanting data control without relying on big social media, ensuring privacy and autonomy over community interactions.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  ossn:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: ossn
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

User profiles & activity feeds
Group management & private messaging
Extensible via plugins and themes
Self-hosted data privacy control

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is OSSN hard to install?

OSSN is relatively easy to install. It supports Docker for quick deployment or traditional LAMP stack setups (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) compatible with most web hosts. Official docs provide step-by-step guides, and community support is available for troubleshooting.

? Is it a good alternative to Facebook Groups?

Yes! OSSN offers similar group features (activity feeds, messaging, sharing) but with full data control. Unlike Facebook Groups, your community data stays on your self-hosted server—no ads or third-party tracking.

? Is it completely free?

OSSN is 100% free and open-source under the MIT License. You can download, install, and modify it without cost. Hosting or premium community plugins/themes may incur fees, but the core platform is free.

Top Alternatives

Facebook Groups Search Google

Reddit (niche communities) Search Google

Discord (chat-focused networks) Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Free/Open Source

Category Communication - Social Networks and Forums

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Full ownership of community data
⊕ Highly customizable with plugins/themes
⊕ No subscription fees or third-party ads

Cons

⊖ Requires basic server administration skills
⊖ Smaller plugin ecosystem than proprietary alternatives
⊖ PHP dependency needs regular security updates