Writefreely

Open-source · self-hostable · replaces 1 SaaS tool on os-alt

writefreely/writefreely · alive · ★ 5.15k · last commit 5w ago · 118 open issues

License: AGPL-3.0

Good fit for Writers who want a minimalist public archive + Fediverse reach and don't need paid subscriptions.

Weak at No paid-subscriber rails — strictly free publishing; no email-newsletter loop without bolting on Listmonk.

In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli substack prints the Substack comparison table including Writefreely. how the CLI works →

Replaces these SaaS

Substack · Newsletter publishing + paid subscriptions
Run `docker run -p 8080:8080 -v $HOME/wf-data:/go/keys writeas/writefreely:latest`. Substack post export as Markdown imports manually via Writefreely's CLI (`writefreely --import`). Federation means Mastodon followers see your posts; no native paid-tier story (community plugins for member gating exist but immature).

README badges for the SaaS this replaces

Maintainers and forks: drop a badge in your README to link readers from the SaaS-comparison page back to your repo.

/substack/

FAQ

Is Writefreely actively maintained?

Yes — last commit 5w ago. The repository is alive (commit activity within the past 90 days).

What does Writefreely cost to self-host?

Writefreely is free and open source under AGPL-3.0. Typical self-host VPS cost: $5 VPS for the app; ActivityPub-federated so no separate email cost line.

Which SaaS does Writefreely replace?

Writefreely is listed as an open-source self-host alternative to: Substack.