Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Diaspora VS Scuttlebutt

Compare Diaspora VS Scuttlebutt and see what are their differences

Diaspora logo Diaspora

The online social world where you are in control.

Scuttlebutt logo Scuttlebutt

A decent(ralised) secure gossip platform.
  • Diaspora Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-13
  • Scuttlebutt Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-16

Diaspora features and specs

  • Decentralization
    Diaspora is a decentralized social network, which means that no single entity has control over the entire network. Users' data is distributed across different servers (pods) which enhances privacy and security.
  • User Privacy
    Diaspora emphasizes user privacy and control over personal data. Users own their data and can decide what to share and with whom.
  • Open Source
    Diaspora is open-source software, which allows anyone to inspect, modify, and improve the code. This promotes transparency and community-driven development.
  • No Advertisements
    Unlike many other social networks, Diaspora does not run advertisements, creating a more streamlined and less intrusive user experience.
  • Federated Network
    The platform operates on a federated network structure, which connects various Diaspora servers around the world, enhancing redundancy and resilience.

Possible disadvantages of Diaspora

  • User Base
    Diaspora has a relatively smaller user base compared to mainstream social networks like Facebook or Twitter, which may result in less engagement or content sharing opportunities.
  • Technical Barrier
    Setting up a personal pod can be technically challenging for users who are not familiar with server management, potentially limiting its adoption.
  • Feature Limitations
    Diaspora may lack some of the advanced features available on other social media platforms, such as integrated event management, comprehensive analytics, or business tools.
  • Interoperability
    Although Diaspora is part of the Fediverse, its interoperability with other decentralized social networks and services is not fully optimized.
  • Development Pace
    Being a community-driven project, the pace of development can be slower and more inconsistent compared to commercial platforms with dedicated development teams.

Scuttlebutt features and specs

  • Decentralization
    Scuttlebutt operates on a peer-to-peer network, meaning there is no central server. This enhances privacy and resilience, as there is no single point of failure.
  • Offline Accessibility
    Users can interact with the network and access data even when they are offline. Changes are synchronized once users connect to the network again.
  • Privacy
    Due to its decentralized nature and end-to-end encryption features, Scuttlebutt provides a higher level of privacy compared to centralized social networks.
  • Community-centric
    Scuttlebutt encourages smaller, community-centric interactions rather than wide-reaching, general-purpose social networking.

Possible disadvantages of Scuttlebutt

  • Scalability
    Due to its decentralized approach, Scuttlebutt may face challenges in scaling effectively compared to centralized social networks.
  • Usability
    The user experience may not be as polished or intuitive as mainstream social networks, making it harder for non-technical users to adopt.
  • Security Risks
    While decentralized, Scuttlebutt is still vulnerable to certain security risks, such as the propagation of malicious data by peers.
  • Limited Ecosystem
    The ecosystem around Scuttlebutt, including apps and integrations, is relatively limited compared to mainstream social media platforms.

Analysis of Diaspora

Overall verdict

  • Diaspora* is a good platform for users who prioritize privacy and data ownership. While it may lack some of the features and user base size of more popular social media sites, its commitment to an open-source and decentralized model presents a solid alternative for privacy-conscious individuals.

Why this product is good

  • Diaspora* is a decentralized social network that aims to give users control over their own data and privacy. Unlike traditional social media platforms, it does not rely on a central server. Instead, users can host their own pods or join existing ones, offering more control over their information. This structure aims to reduce censorship, tracking, and data exploitation by large corporations. It appeals to those who value open-source projects and privacy over the convenience and features of more mainstream platforms.

Recommended for

  • Privacy-conscious individuals
  • Open-source enthusiasts
  • Users who dislike corporate control of social media
  • Tech-savvy individuals looking for self-hosted solutions
  • Individuals interested in decentralization

Analysis of Scuttlebutt

Overall verdict

  • Scuttlebutt is considered good for those looking for a more private, decentralized alternative to traditional social media networks. Its commitment to privacy, data ownership, and community-driven development makes it appealing for privacy-conscious users and those interested in technology-driven social projects.

Why this product is good

  • Scuttlebutt (scuttlebutt.nz) provides a decentralized social networking platform that is unique compared to mainstream social networks. It emphasizes privacy, peer-to-peer communication, and local-first technology, allowing users to own their data and connect without the need for centralized servers. Users appreciate it for its commitment to an open, user-controlled environment, which can foster genuine interactions and community building.

Recommended for

  • Privacy-conscious individuals
  • Technology enthusiasts interested in decentralized networks
  • Users who prefer open-source platforms
  • People looking for alternative social networking experiences
  • Community builders

Diaspora videos

GoldLink - DIASPORA ALBUM Review

More videos:

  • Review - Deleting Facebook and Joining Diaspora

Scuttlebutt videos

Scuttlebutt Amber Ale By Scuttlebutt Brewing Company | American Craft Beer Review

More videos:

  • Review - Scuttlebutt Porter By Scuttlebutt Brewing Company | American Craft Beer Review
  • Review - Scuttlebutt Gale Force IPA By Scuttlebutt Brewing Company | American Craft Beer Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Diaspora and Scuttlebutt)
Social Networks
77 77%
23% 23
Social Network
72 72%
28% 28
Decentralized Social Network
Decentralised Social Network

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Diaspora and Scuttlebutt

Diaspora Reviews

10+ Top Facebook Alternatives That Value Your Privacy in 2024
Diaspora is the best Facebook alternative for users who are dead serious about privacy. With Diaspora, you can host your own “pod,” and only interact with other pods you deem trustworthy.
Facebook Alternatives 2020 – Social Networks That Won’t Sell Your Data
Diaspora is also in the mix when it comes to Facebook alternatives. Diaspora is a decentralized social network that is nonprofit and runs on free Diaspora software. The software is in the form of a free personal web server.
What are the best alternatives to Facebook?
The platform Diaspora is a social world online that puts your data back in your own hands, according to its own slogan. Its range of functions is similar to those of Facebook. Users can publish status updates, share posts and images, and comment on other people’s posts. And just like on Facebook, you can control who gets to see your own posts as well. Diaspora uses hashtags...
Source: www.ionos.com
8 Best Facebook Alternatives With Focus On Privacy For 2018
The search for Facebook alternatives also covers Diaspora. It is a nonprofit and distributed social network that’s based on free Diaspora software, which is a free personal web server that forms nodes for its decentralized nature.
Source: fossbytes.com

Scuttlebutt Reviews

Scuttlebutt, A Decentralized Alternative To Facebook
Because users own all of the files that make up Scuttlebutt, they can store their data anywhere. For example, I have 800 MB worth of data — that’s small enough to fit on a microSD card. This represents two years of status updates, friends’ status updates, contact information, photos, and what have you. As soon as I put the card into my phone, Scuttlebutt automatically...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Scuttlebutt should be more popular than Diaspora. It has been mentiond 50 times since March 2021. 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.

Diaspora mentions (30)

  • Ask HN: Organize local communities without Facebook?
    * Look into Diaspora. (https://diasporafoundation.org/). Upside: It's basically a self-hosted facebook. Really cool project. Downside: Unlike facebook, there's no fake/pushed content so it tended to feel stale. * Look into hosting a forum (e.g. phpBB). Forums are excellent because they don't lose old information like facebook does. When someone says "Hey what's the policy on dogs?" three years later I can search... - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Mastodon provides the highest (over 12%) engagement under posts
    > whatever that Ruby-based alternative was, that Zuck famously invested in, but to which I have zero memory of the name right now I think you're referring to Diaspora. https://diasporafoundation.org/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaspora_(social_network). - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Imgur Is About to Wipe a Ton of Porn From the Internet
    Maybe if reddit manages to kill itself, one of the decentralized projects like diaspora will expand. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Twitter will remove accounts created solely to promote other social platforms
    I remember making similar comments about Diaspora vs Facebook a decade ago, but people are... lazy. Yeah, let's go with lazy. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Stop
    To be fair, its not Mastodon, its the #Fediverse. Mastodon is arguably the least rich platfrom on the 'verse. IMHO Friendica is where its at, and you can still communicate with all the twitter refugees on Mastodon, as well as meater content on services likeDiaspora*, not to mention full integration with Lemmy (which works fairly similar to Reddit) while Masto you can see lemmy posts and replies without having to... Source: over 2 years ago
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Scuttlebutt mentions (50)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Diaspora and Scuttlebutt, you can also consider the following products

Mastodon - Mastodon is a decentralized, open source social network. This is just one part of the network, run by the main developers of the project It is not focused on any particular niche interest - everyone is welcome!

Facebook - Connect with friends, family and other people you know. Share photos and videos, send messages and get updates.

Friendica - Decentralisation - Privacy - Interoperability

X (Twitter) - Connect with your friends and other fascinating people. Get in-the-moment updates on the things that interest you. And watch events unfold, in real time, from every angle.

PixelFed - PixelFed is a federated image sharing platform, powered by the ActivityPub protocol.

Gab.ai - Gab is an ad-free social network dedicated to free speech.