# PixelFed vs Virtual Radar Server

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

| | PixelFed | Virtual Radar Server |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 64/100 ✓ | 49/100 |
| Rank in category | #12 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #6 of 9 in Mapping & GPS |
| GitHub stars | 7 130 ✓ | 315 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +23 ✓ | +0 |
| 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 | C |

## Which one should you pick?

PixelFed scores 64/100 against 49/100 for Virtual Radar Server, so it is the safer default.

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

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

PixelFed is growing faster right now (+23 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [PixelFed](https://selfhost.directory/project/pixelfed) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/pixelfed.md)
- [Virtual Radar Server](https://selfhost.directory/project/virtual-radar-server) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/virtual-radar-server.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/pixelfed-vs-virtual-radar-server