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GoToSocial Hosting

Run your own lightweight fediverse server: post, follow, and interact across Mastodon and the wider ActivityPub network from your own domain.

Order now No setup fees
  • One click deploy
  • 1 GB RAM Memory needed
  • 15 GB Disk Space Needed
  • From 2 € Price

Official links

GoToSocial’s official links and original website

Related apps

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Tech

Docker image
superseriousbusiness/gotosocial:latest
Default port
8080

How GoToSocial works

GoToSocial is an ActivityPub server that exchanges accounts, follows, posts, replies, favourites, boosts, and media with other compatible Fediverse software. Timelines are chronological, and users can choose public, unlisted, followers-only, direct, or local-only visibility where supported. Mastodon-compatible APIs let supported web, mobile, or desktop clients connect to the server.

The catalogue sets the public hostname, stores the SQLite database and media under /gotosocial/storage, creates and promotes the admin account, disables internal certificate provisioning because HTTPS is handled by the platform, and keeps new registration closed. Additional users must therefore be invited or created through the application’s administrative workflow.

Key GoToSocial features

Federation makes the hostname part of account identity and signed communication with other servers. Upstream warns that host and account-domain choices cannot be changed safely after federation begins without rebuilding data and confusing remote servers. Choose the final custom domain before following accounts, publishing posts, or accepting followers, and retain control of that domain for the life of the identity.

GoToSocial is currently described upstream as beta software. It federates with many servers but does not implement every feature, and compatible clients can differ in support. Operating a social server also involves moderation, abuse reports, domain blocks, data requests, copyright concerns, media retention, and community rules that hosting does not perform on the administrator’s behalf.

Who uses GoToSocial

An individual can operate a personal Fediverse identity, a small community can create a focused instance, and organisations can publish accounts from a domain they control. Users can interact with people on many other ActivityPub servers through compatible clients and federation.

GoToSocial is not a managed social network, content-moderation service, legal-response team, discovery algorithm, email provider, or client application bundle. It is unsuitable for operators who cannot maintain a stable domain, respond to abuse, manage storage, test migrations, and understand the public consequences of federation.

Self-hosting GoToSocial: requirements and cost

GoToSocial resource use depends on local users, posts, followers, federation traffic, remote deliveries, media uploads, remote-media caching, database work, background processing, and client connections. PostgreSQL and MariaDB are Not required by this catalogue template because it uses SQLite in the persistent storage volume. The software has no separate application charge, while media and federation can grow independently of local posting.

On AvaHost, GoToSocial uses Plan 1 at €2. The hosted GoToSocial package includes one-click deployment, a custom domain with automated HTTPS, automatic application updates, and scheduled backups. Connect the final domain before federation and protect the generated administrator credentials. Registration is closed by default. The package does not include compatible client apps, moderation staff, domain policy, social discovery, media rights, OIDC setup, SMTP notifications, or application email. Review beta status and backup the database and media together before significant updates.

F.A.Q

  • GoToSocial starts at €2 on Plan 1 for a small instance. Local users, posts, federation deliveries, followers, media uploads, remote-media caching, database activity, and connected clients determine the real workload. A public instance with active media and federation may need more storage or processing than a single personal account.

  • The hostname becomes part of federated account identity and signed ActivityPub traffic. Upstream warns that changing the host or account-domain arrangement after federation begins is unsafe and can confuse remote servers. Connect the intended custom domain with automated HTTPS before following users, publishing posts, or accepting followers.

  • The catalogue creates and promotes the `admin` account and keeps open registration disabled. Sign in with the generated password, configure the instance, and add or invite users through approved administrative methods. Application email is disabled, so do not depend on email invitations, confirmations, notifications, or recovery.

  • GoToSocial implements Mastodon-compatible APIs and documents several tested third-party clients, but no mobile or desktop client is bundled. Choose a compatible application, point it at the final server domain, and test login, streaming, media, post visibility, and federation. Client support may differ because the server remains beta software.