head to head · open source
Maskbook vs databag
Maskbook has 1,584 GitHub stars, 316 forks, 4 open issues and last shipped 4 days ago. databag has 1,490 stars, 95 forks, 59 open issues and last shipped 3 months ago. Maskbook leads on adoption by 6% (1,584 vs 1,490 stars). Maskbook is written in TypeScript under AGPL-3.0; databag is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0. Maskbook has attracted 20% as many forks as stars, databag 6%. Maskbook was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (dweb), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| Maskbook | databag | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 1.6K | ★ 1.5K |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-09-16 | 2026-06-14 |
| Forks | ⑂ 316 | ⑂ 95 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Maskbook if
- You weight community size — 1.6K stars and counting
- You want the AGPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick databag if
- You want the databag feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and databag fits your workflow better
About Maskbook
Maskbook is open source browser extension. It is TypeScript project. It carries AGPL 3.0 license. It sits in Community & Social / Social Networking. It presents itself as portal to new, open Internet. It bridges Web2.0 to Web3.0. It targets social platforms people already use. It adds encrypted posting, encrypted file sharing, NFT profile picture use, token trading on X (formerly Twitter), crypto lucky draws. It uses topics: arweave, blockchain, browser extension, crypto, cryptography, defi, dweb, encryption, ethereum, gundb, ipfs, nft. It has 1582 stars, 316 forks, 4 open issues. Repo age 7 years. Last push 2026…
read the full Maskbook overview →
About databag
Databag is a fast and lightweight self hosted messenger written in TypeScript under the Apache 2.0 license. It belongs to the community and social networking ecosystem, with topics spanning decentralized web, federated chat, mobile messenger, and self hosted server projects. Clients are available through F Droid as well as the Google and Apple stores.
read the full databag overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Maskbook or databag more popular?
Maskbook has 1,584 GitHub stars and databag has 1,490. Maskbook has the larger community by that measure.
Are Maskbook and databag free?
Both are open source. Maskbook is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and databag under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Maskbook and databag?
Maskbook is written in TypeScript and databag in TypeScript. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, Maskbook or databag?
Choose Maskbook if you want the larger community (1,584 stars) or its AGPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose databag if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.