Bluesky
Best for self-hosting
Why teams pick it
Organizations wanting self-hosted social apps on AT Protocol infrastructure
Open-source alternatives to Ning
Compare community-driven replacements for Ning in social networking platforms workflows. We curate active, self-hostable options with transparent licensing so you can evaluate the right fit quickly.
Ning
Ning lets you design and run a branded online community with groups, forums, content, email, and monetization options.Read more
Key stats
- 7Alternatives
- 1Support self-hosting
Run on infrastructure you control
- 5Active development
Recent commits in the last 6 months
- 2Permissive licenses
MIT, Apache, and similar licenses
Counts reflect projects currently indexed as alternatives to Ning.
Start with these picks
These projects match the most common migration paths for teams replacing Ning.
Mastodon
Privacy-first alternative
Why teams pick it
Privacy‑conscious users preferring self‑hosted solutions
All open-source alternatives
Bluesky
Open-source React Native client for Bluesky decentralized social network
Self-host friendlyActive developmentPermissive licenseTypeScript
Why teams choose it
- Cross-platform React Native architecture for web, iOS, and Android
- Native integration with AT Protocol decentralized social framework
- MIT-licensed with software patent non-aggression pledge
Watch for
Contribution guidelines prioritize team bandwidth over community PRs
Migration highlight
Enterprise Social Network
Fork the codebase to deploy a private Bluesky instance with corporate branding and internal authentication systems
Elgg
Rapid PHP framework for building socially aware web applications
Active developmentIntegration-friendlyAI-powered workflowsPHP
Why teams choose it
- Well‑documented core API with low learning curve
- Flexible event and view systems for deep plugin extensibility
- Built‑in security (CSRF, XSS, HMAC, modern password hashing)
Watch for
Steeper learning for PHP newcomers
Migration highlight
University alumni portal
Self‑hosted, secure network fostering alumni engagement with profiles, groups, and resource sharing.
Bootcamp
Enterprise‑grade social platform with microblog, Q&A, and chat
Permissive licenseFast to deployIntegration-friendlyCSS
Why teams choose it
- Integrated microblog, collaborative articles, Q&A, and messenger apps
- Real‑time communication via Django Channels and Redis
- Docker and Heroku deployment scripts included
Watch for
Tied to Django 2.2, may require upgrades for newer versions
Migration highlight
Internal employee newsfeed
Employees can post short updates, fostering real‑time awareness across the organization.
Mastodon
Self‑hosted, federated microblogging platform powered by ActivityPub
Active developmentPrivacy-firstFast to deployRuby
Why teams choose it
- Federated ActivityPub network for cross‑server interaction
- Real‑time chronological timeline updates
- Rich media support with images, videos, and looping GIF‑like playback
Watch for
Requires Ruby, PostgreSQL, Redis, and Node.js expertise
Migration highlight
Campus community hub
Students and staff share announcements, events, and media while maintaining campus‑level moderation and privacy.
HumHub
Modular social platform for teams, intranets, and communities
Active developmentIntegration-friendlyAI-powered workflowsPHP
Why teams choose it
- Customizable user profiles and granular permission system
- Unlimited Spaces acting as project or department rooms
- Rich content types: posts, wiki, media, events, tasks
Watch for
Requires PHP/Yii2 expertise for advanced customization
Migration highlight
Corporate Intranet
Centralizes announcements, documents, and team collaboration within secure, permission‑controlled Spaces.
OSSN
Build a multilingual social network with PHP-powered flexibility
Active developmentFast to deployIntegration-friendlyPHP
Why teams choose it
- Multilingual UI supporting 20+ languages
- Real‑time chat, messaging and notifications
- Extensible component system with admin dashboard
Watch for
Requires PHP and proper server permissions to run
Migration highlight
Professional Association Hub
Members connect, share articles, and host virtual events within a branded network.
Diaspora
Decentralized, privacy‑focused social network for independent communities
Privacy-firstIntegration-friendlyAI-powered workflowsRuby
Why teams choose it
- Federated architecture allowing seamless interaction across independent pods
- User‑centric data ownership with granular privacy controls
- Open‑source Ruby on Rails stack encouraging community contributions
Watch for
Self‑hosting requires technical knowledge of Ruby/Rails and server management
Migration highlight
Personal social networking across pods
Maintain full ownership of posts and contacts while connecting with friends on any Diaspora* server.
Choosing a social networking platforms alternative
Teams replacing Ning in social networking platforms workflows typically weigh self-hosting needs, integration coverage, and licensing obligations.
- 1 project let you self-host and keep customer data on infrastructure you control.
- 5 options are actively maintained with recent commits.
Tip: shortlist one hosted and one self-hosted option so stakeholders can compare trade-offs before migrating away from Ning.