Lemmy if you want the common AGPL Reddit-shaped server (the published path). PieFed if you want that Python threadiverse — /compare/lemmy-vs-piefed.

No. Discourse is a forum — /replace/skool and /replace/facebook-groups. This page is a link aggregator.

Lemmy and PieFed are AGPL-3.0. You pay hosting. Template users never pay c17.

Stacks / Support

Medium

Lemmy / PieFed

A link aggregator you host. Lemmy is AGPL-3.0; PieFed is AGPL-3.0 — Reddit without the hosted community seat.

The problem

Reddit is a hosted link aggregator and community OS. You wanted communities, posts, and votes on hardware you control. Lemmy is AGPL-3.0 (LemmyNet/lemmy; last push 23 Oct 2026). PieFed is AGPL-3.0 (Codeberg rimu/pyfedi — not a GitHub repo; last update 22 Oct 2026). Mbin is another AGPL threadiverse server if that PHP shape is the job. This is not Reddit's every award SKU, ads, or the old subreddit social graph. A forum stays on /replace/skool (Discourse). Chat stays on /replace/discord.

Replaces

Replace Reddit See all best open-source fediverse social servers

Estimated SaaS saved

$1,200

per year, small team, before lock-in

Start on Railway

Discourse if this is a forum, not a link aggregator

Sponsor this stack Tip jar

Placeholder: Lemmy (API plus lemmy-ui) or PieFed plus Postgres. Federation wants a public hostname. No one-click template in this repo yet — Start on Railway. A classic forum stays on /stacks/discourse-community.

The stack

Lemmy
AGPL-3.0 federated link aggregator — the published Reddit path
Catalog entry →
PieFed
AGPL-3.0 Python threadiverse server (Codeberg rimu/pyfedi)
Catalog entry →

Cost table

You stop paying	Typical / year	Self-host instead
Reddit / hosted community seats (small team)	$1,200	Lemmy or PieFed + Postgres

Agent setup prompt

Replace Reddit with Lemmy (preferred) or PieFed.

- Official docs. Persist Postgres. Create one community and one post. Do not claim Reddit awards or the old social graph.
- PieFed is on Codeberg (rimu/pyfedi), not GitHub. A forum stays on /stacks/discourse-community.
- Write AGENT_PROMPT.md.

Also as markdown: /stacks/lemmy-reddit.md

FAQ

Lemmy or PieFed?: Lemmy if you want the common AGPL Reddit-shaped server (the published path). PieFed if you want that Python threadiverse — /compare/lemmy-vs-piefed.
Is this Discourse?: No. Discourse is a forum — /replace/skool and /replace/facebook-groups. This page is a link aggregator.
Are these free?: Lemmy and PieFed are AGPL-3.0. You pay hosting. Template users never pay c17.