What it does
Pixelfed is open-source photo-sharing software for communities connected through the fediverse. The application is available for continuing self-hosted use without a software subscription. Operators provide hosting and create a local administrator account.
Pixelfed separates open registration from public Discover access, anonymous hashtag feeds and the landing-page directory. Configure admission and visibility individually: a community can choose who may join separately from what visitors can browse. Photo, album and caption limits are also server settings.
For moderation email, enable report messages and enter the recipient addresses. Autospam notices need an additional switch and require report email to be enabled. After changing environment or configuration files, refresh the configuration cache and clear the application cache so the new values take effect.
The project currently recommends Docker Compose for deployment. Set the domain, database and mail configuration, start the services and generate the required application keys, then create the administrator using the user:create console command. Media storage and background workers are part of running the service, so plan hosting capacity around the community's photo uploads.
AGPLv3 covers the application; independently hosted communities can set their own admission and operating arrangements.
Strengths
- Public discovery and registration have separate controls
- Administrative report emails can go to selected recipients
Watch out for
- Configuration changes need a cache refresh to take effect
- Hosting includes media storage and background processing
Best for
- Operators running a federated photo-sharing community
Sources
- GNU AFFERO GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE (Oct 26, 2026)
- Release v0.15.2 - Security Update: PHP RCE + CA Update Compromise · pixelfed/pixelfed · GitHub (Oct 26, 2026)
- Pixelfed original application repository (Oct 27, 2026)
- Pixelfed configuration reference (Oct 27, 2026)
- Pixelfed GNU Affero General Public License (Oct 27, 2026)
- Pixelfed Docker Compose setup (Oct 27, 2026)
- Pixelfed installation and background services (Oct 27, 2026)