# openpencil vs PixelFed

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | openpencil | PixelFed |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 ✓ | 64/100 |
| Rank in category | #2 of 7 in Design | #12 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums |
| GitHub stars | 9 424 ✓ | 7 131 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +823 ✓ | +24 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 14 | 15 ✓ |
| Latest release | v0.16.0 · 14 Oct 2026 | v0.15.2 · 21 Oct 2026 ✓ |
| Setup | Easy ✓ | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | No | No |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Typescript | PHP |

## Which one should you pick?

openpencil scores 73/100 against 64/100 for PixelFed, so it is the safer default.

PixelFed ships more often: 15 stable releases in the past year, against 14 for openpencil.

If you want the quickest setup, openpencil is easier to run; PixelFed needs more configuration.

openpencil is growing faster right now (+823 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [openpencil](https://selfhost.directory/project/openpencil) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/openpencil.md)
- [PixelFed](https://selfhost.directory/project/pixelfed) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/pixelfed.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/openpencil-vs-pixelfed