Elgg - Free Social Networking Engine

Elgg is an open source social networking engine, which provides core components to create social media websites and web applications. It can be used to develop all kinds of social networks such as social networks for universities, school or colleges, internal collaborative platforms and many more.

Features

• User Management: User registration, profiles, and customizable roles.
• Activity Feeds: Real-time updates of user activities.
• Customizable Themes: Extendable themes and layouts.
• Group Collaboration: Users can create and join groups.
• Plugins and Extensions: A wide library of plugins for extra functionality.
• Content Sharing: Blogs, files, photos, and videos.
• API Support: Integrate with third-party tools and services.

Pros

• Open-source and free to use.
• Scalable for both small and large communities.
• Flexible through plugins and API integrations.
• Strong developer community for support.

Cons

• Limited out-of-the-box features; heavy reliance on plugins.
• Steeper learning curve for non-technical users.
• Performance can degrade with many plugins or large-scale usage.

Free Plan Details

• Elgg is entirely free and open-source under the GPL license.
• You can self-host it or deploy it on a server of your choice.
• Additional costs include hosting, domain, and optional paid plugins or support services.