Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Archive of Our Own VS SquidgeWorld Archive

Compare Archive of Our Own VS SquidgeWorld Archive and see what are their differences

Archive of Our Own logo Archive of Our Own

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

SquidgeWorld Archive logo SquidgeWorld Archive

SquidgeWorld Archive is brought to you by Squidge.org, using software from the Organization for Transformative Works. Neither SquidgeWorld Archive nor Squidge.org are associated with The OTW. A fork of the fanfiction website, ArchiveOfOurOwn.
  • Archive of Our Own Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-22
  • SquidgeWorld Archive Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-08

Archive of Our Own features and specs

  • Diverse Content
    Archive of Our Own (AO3) offers a wide range of fan-generated content across numerous fandoms, genres, and formats, providing extensive variety for readers and writers.
  • User-Friendly Tagging System
    AO3 employs a comprehensive and flexible tagging system that allows users to easily find content that matches their interests and preferences.
  • Non-Profit Organization
    As a part of the Organization for Transformative Works (OTW), AO3 is a non-profit platform that operates free from commercial pressures, focusing solely on user experience.
  • Customization Options
    Users can customize the site's appearance according to their preferences, making the reading experience more personalized and comfortable.
  • Community and Support
    AO3 fosters a supportive community that encourages creativity and offers feedback, making it a welcoming environment for both new and experienced writers.
  • No Advertising
    The site is free from advertisements, providing an uninterrupted and clean reading experience.

Possible disadvantages of Archive of Our Own

  • Content Moderation
    The open nature of AO3 means that there is minimal content moderation, which can lead to the presence of low-quality or disturbing content.
  • Search Function Limitations
    Despite its robust tagging system, AO3's search functionality can sometimes be less intuitive and more complex for new users.
  • Variable Quality
    Since AO3 hosts user-generated content, the quality of stories can vary significantly, ranging from brilliantly written works to less polished pieces.
  • Adult Content Accessibility
    Explicit content on the site can be easily accessible, which might be a concern for younger users or those seeking a family-friendly environment.
  • Server Performance
    AO3 occasionally faces server performance issues, especially during peak times, which can result in slow loading times or temporary inaccessibility.
  • Complex Interface
    The site's interface can be overwhelming for newcomers due to its extensive features and options, which might require a learning curve.

SquidgeWorld Archive features and specs

  • Community Driven
    SquidgeWorld Archive is supported by a passionate community of writers and readers, providing a welcoming environment for creative expression.
  • Diverse Content
    Offers a wide variety of fan fiction, original stories, and creative works across multiple genres and fandoms, catering to diverse interests.
  • Open Access
    Allows open access to its content without paywalls or subscriptions, ensuring that everyone can read and contribute without financial barriers.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Designed with a straightforward and easy-to-navigate interface, making it simple for both new and experienced users to browse and upload content.
  • Support for Mature Content
    Provides options for authors to publish mature and adult-oriented works with appropriate content warnings, supporting creative freedom.
  • Feedback Mechanism
    Includes features for readers to leave comments and feedback on works, fostering engagement and interaction between creators and their audience.

Possible disadvantages of SquidgeWorld Archive

  • Limited Recognition
    Despite its offerings, it may not have as much recognition as larger fan fiction platforms, potentially limiting its exposure and user base.
  • Server Stability
    Like many community-driven projects, it may face challenges with server stability and downtimes, affecting accessibility at times.
  • Lack of Advanced Features
    May lack some of the advanced features or functionalities found in more commercial or larger-scale fan fiction sites.
  • Content Moderation
    While it supports creative freedom, maintaining consistent content moderation could be challenging given the open-access nature.

Analysis of Archive of Our Own

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Archive of Our Own (AO3) is widely considered a good platform for fanfiction enthusiasts.

Why this product is good

  • AO3 offers a vast collection of fan-created works across various genres and fandoms, allowing users to explore a wide range of creative content.
  • The site is user-friendly and provides robust tagging and filtering systems, making it easier for users to find specific works according to their interests.
  • AO3 is known for its strong community support and dedication to preserving fanworks, ensuring that creators have the freedom to share their stories without worrying about censorship.
  • The platform is entirely volunteer-driven and is run by the Organization for Transformative Works, a non-profit entity, which emphasizes its community-focused nature.

Recommended for

  • Fans of specific books, movies, TV shows, or games who enjoy exploring alternative storylines and character developments.
  • Writers looking for a platform to share their fanfiction and reach a dedicated audience.
  • Readers interested in diverse narratives and creative storytelling extensions beyond original works.
  • Community-oriented individuals who value a non-commercial, supportive environment for fan creations.

Archive of Our Own videos

The Life and Death of Fandom Platforms | LiveJournal, Archive of Our Own (AO3), Tumblr, and ???

More videos:

  • Review - WEB SITE REVIEW : Archive Of Our Own

SquidgeWorld Archive videos

No SquidgeWorld Archive videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Archive of Our Own and SquidgeWorld Archive)
Writing Tools
94 94%
6% 6
Design Tools
87 87%
13% 13
Books
100 100%
0% 0
Databases
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Archive of Our Own seems to be a lot more popular than SquidgeWorld Archive. While we know about 627 links to Archive of Our Own, we've tracked only 7 mentions of SquidgeWorld Archive. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Archive of Our Own mentions (627)

  • I want to create IMDB for Open source projects
    I'm not sure how much value making something "not fugly" really matters. Design should be based on functionality, not anti-fugliness. In my experience, design considerations should come after building a successful growth "feedback loop." (Or whatever you want to call it.) At that point, you may decide making your website look "polished" isn't even necessary. IMDB was certainly quite ugly for a long time.... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • For a few times I’ve seen comments that this fanbase is small. How/why?
    On Archive Of Our Own , the theme for International Fanworks Day 2021 was fandoms/relationships that aren't well represented on the site. Based on an idea I'd had going back to 1992, I picked Mariah Carey and wrote this story. There are only 11 stories/works) about or involving Mariah on the site. Hell, she's been around 33 years and her first name still gets the red squiggle under it, meaning her name... Source: over 1 year ago
  • Larian romance stats vs AO3 stats
    It's the top-10 romantic relationships written about BG3 characters on AO3, the largest fanfiction website on the internet. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Larian romance stats vs AO3 stats
    For those not in the know, AO3 (the ArchiveOfOurOwn) is the largest (I think?) fanfiction website on the internet. Its interests are pretty different! ;). Source: over 1 year ago
  • Best Spuffy long fics?
    Elysian Fields is the place for Spuffy fanfic! I recommend doing an Advanced Search - you can search for and sort by word count, likes, etc. (similar to Archive of Our Own, also a place with Spuffy fics but not quite as user-friendly as EF). Source: over 1 year ago
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SquidgeWorld Archive mentions (7)

  • Hope you guys are doing well during this blackout
    Visiting Squidgeworld and seeing what they have. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Update Megathread for Tuesday July 11th
    There's also Squidgeworld, which runs on the same base software that AO3 does (it should look fairly familiar). There's nowhere near the number of fics that other archives have, but that just means your stuff will be more easily seen by whoever stops by to check things out. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Demands made by Anonymous Sudan
    AO3 is open-source. I know it's down but plenty of people have apparently grabbed the source-code. There is SquidgeWorld which used AO3's source-code so at the very least ao3 users could congregate there if AO3 gets taken down. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Fanfic website genres
    SquidgeWorld is based on the AO3 codes but a separate site. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Best Website To Post Fanfictions on?
    SquidgeWorld is set up like AO3 now, though it doesn't get the traffic it did way back when. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Archive of Our Own and SquidgeWorld Archive, you can also consider the following products

Fanfiction.net - The most popular fan fiction website in the world according to Wikipedia

Wattpad - Wattpad is now the worlds most popular ebook community where readers and writers discover, share...

My Storybook - Make children's storybooks online for free.

Commaful - Largest multimedia fiction site in the world. A lot of short stories, poetry, and fanfiction.

eFiction - eFiction is a software program that enables users to run automated original or fanfiction archives...

Booksie.com - Booksie is a free online publishing site that allows writers to easily post, share, and promote their writing.