Mobilizon
Federated, open source events and groups platform for communities, an ad-free alternative to Facebook Events
Quick Overview
| Company | Kaihuri (French non-profit association, RNA W922017919, maintainer since 2024); originally created by Framasoft (association loi 1901, SIRET 500 715 776 00026) |
|---|---|
| Category | Social Media |
| Headquarters | Caluire-et-Cuire, France (Kaihuri); Lyon, France (Framasoft) |
| Founded | 2019 |
| EU Presence | EU (France) |
| Data Location | Depends on the instance. Kaihuri's project site is hosted by Framasoft at Hetzner in Germany; framasoft.org is also hosted at Hetzner Online GmbH (Germany). Self-hosted instances sit wherever the operator chooses. |
| Open Source | Yes |
| Pricing | Mobilizon is free software. Anyone can create an account on an existing public instance (examples listed on mobilizon.org include mobilizon.fr, Mobilizon.be, Mobilizon.nl, Mobilizon.ie, Mobilizon.it, Mobilisons.ch) or install their own instance from the documentation. The project site mentions professional hosting services via contact, with no public price list. Kaihuri is funded by donations and NLNet. |
| Free Option | Free to use on public instances; no trial needed |
| Replaces | Facebook Events, Facebook Groups, Meetup |
Detailed Review
Mobilizon is a federated platform for events and groups, started in 2019 by the French non-profit Framasoft after a crowdfunding campaign. Since 2024 it has been maintained by Kaihuri, another French non-profit association, with financial support from NLNet. It covers one job that the other tools on this page do not: finding, creating and sharing events and running groups around them.
You can create events with a draft mode before publishing, add them to any calendar, search by keyword, place or date, and import or export through ICS and RSS. Groups have a public page, member management and private content, and instances federate with each other through the fediverse, so no single company owns the network. The software is AGPL and available in more than 20 languages.
The honest limits: this is not a general social network. There is no timeline of friends, photo sharing or messaging hub, so it complements Mastodon or Pixelfed rather than replacing them. There is no single company to sign a contract with; you pick a public instance or host your own, and quality varies. Audience is small compared with Facebook Events.
What Mobilizon does well
- French non-profit maintainers, AGPL open source
- Events and groups in one federated platform
- No advertising, built to save attention
- ICS and RSS import and export
- Public instances in many countries or self-host
Where Mobilizon falls short
- Narrow scope: events and groups, not a full social network
- Much smaller audience than Facebook Events
- Instance quality and moderation vary
- Professional hosting has no public price
Standout feature. It rebuilds the one Facebook feature people struggle to leave, events and local groups, as federated open source software.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- French non-profit maintainers, AGPL open source
- Events and groups in one federated platform
- No advertising, built to save attention
- ICS and RSS import and export
- Public instances in many countries or self-host
Cons
- Narrow scope: events and groups, not a full social network
- Much smaller audience than Facebook Events
- Instance quality and moderation vary
- Professional hosting has no public price
Alternatives to Mobilizon
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mobilizon?
Mobilizon is a federated platform for events and groups, started in 2019 by the French non-profit Framasoft after a crowdfunding campaign. Since 2024 it has been maintained by Kaihuri, another French non-profit association, with financial support from NLNet. It covers one job that the other tools on this page do not: finding, creating and sharing events and running groups around them.
Where is Mobilizon based?
Mobilizon operates from Caluire-et-Cuire, France (Kaihuri); Lyon, France (Framasoft), which places it under EU (France).
What does Mobilizon cost?
Mobilizon is free software. Anyone can create an account on an existing public instance (examples listed on mobilizon.org include mobilizon.fr, Mobilizon.be, Mobilizon.nl, Mobilizon.ie, Mobilizon.it, Mobilisons.ch) or install their own instance from the documentation. The project site mentions professional hosting services via contact, with no public price list. Kaihuri is funded by donations and NLNet.. Free to use on public instances; no trial needed.
Who is Mobilizon best for?
Communities organising local events without Facebook. It rebuilds the one Facebook feature people struggle to leave, events and local groups, as federated open source software.
What are the drawbacks of Mobilizon?
Narrow scope: events and groups, not a full social network. Much smaller audience than Facebook Events. Instance quality and moderation vary. Professional hosting has no public price.
Is Mobilizon a good alternative to Facebook Events?
Mobilizon is built as a European alternative to Facebook Events: Federated, open source events and groups platform for communities, an ad-free alternative to Facebook Events. It will not be a like-for-like feature match in every respect, so check the review above for where the two genuinely differ before switching.
How does Mobilizon compare to other Social Media tools?
Mobilizon is one of several European Social Media tools we cover. It is most often compared with Facebook Events, Facebook Groups, Meetup.