# PixelFed vs Sandstorm

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

| | PixelFed | Sandstorm |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 64/100 | 65/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #12 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #1 of 5 in Web Hosting |
| GitHub stars | 7 131 ✓ | 7 078 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +24 ✓ | +1 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 15 ✓ | 0 |
| Latest release | v0.15.2 · 21 Oct 2026 | — |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate ✓ |
| Official Docker image | No | No |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Other |
| Main language | PHP | JavaScript |

## Which one should you pick?

Sandstorm scores 65/100 against 64/100 for PixelFed, so it is the safer default.

PixelFed ships more often: 15 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Sandstorm.

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

PixelFed is growing faster right now (+24 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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