PostFast alternatives: 4 open-source picks
PostFast costs $33.45/mo — $401.40 a year. These 4 alternatives replace it for $0, led by Postiz, BrightBean Studio and TryPost. All 4 are open source. License, stars and last commit checked by hand on 2026-08-29. No trials, no crippled tiers.
More networks, team features, analytics, API and MCP; also more databases than a scheduler ought to need.
licenseAGPL-3.0+
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted signup, or Docker Compose for self-hosting.
enginesOptional AI/media features connect to OpenAI, ElevenLabs, fal.ai, Tavily, KieAI and Transloadit.
dataPostgreSQL holds application data; Redis and Temporal support jobs; media is stored locally or in Cloudflare R2/S3-compatible storage.
the catch vs PostFastPostiz matches much of the feature surface, but its database, queue, Temporal and credential stack becomes your responsibility.
setupHosted use is straightforward; self-hosting requires Docker, social OAuth apps, and a PostgreSQL, Redis and Temporal stack.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Publishing, analytics, approvals, API and MCP in a free hosted product; network count is broad, not eleven-shaped.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted signup, or clone the repository and deploy with Docker Compose or a supported PaaS.
enginesNo model is bundled; its REST API and MCP server connect external agents such as Claude Desktop/Code, Cursor or custom clients.
dataHosted data lives in BrightBean's cloud; self-hosted data uses PostgreSQL 16+ with media on local disk or S3-compatible storage.
the catch vs PostFastBrightBean does not promise PostFast's exact eleven-platform coverage or the same maturity of managed publishing and approval workflows.
setupConnecting social networks requires first-party platform developer/OAuth credentials; self-hosting also requires Docker or a PaaS.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Twelve networks, analytics, approvals, REST and MCP; free software with non-free operational attention.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted signup, or production Docker Compose; a bare-metal installation is also documented.
enginesAI writing can use OpenAI or an OpenAI-compatible endpoint; the deployment template also exposes Anthropic and Gemini keys.
dataPostgreSQL or MySQL stores app data, Redis handles queues/cache, and media is local or S3-compatible storage.
the catch vs PostFastTryPost covers twelve networks and approvals, but running its database, queues, media storage and platform apps is the trade.
setupSelf-hosting needs a SQL database, Redis, media storage, and separate developer credentials for each social platform.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Self-hosted social media scheduling and publishing (Laravel). Queue posts to multiple networks without per-seat pricing.
licenseMIT
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
What each one is, in full: Postiz · Mixpost
last updated 2026-08-29 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
how to choose a PostFast alternative
Easiest to get running
Mixpost — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
Most proven
Postiz, with 34,300 GitHub stars — the largest community of the 4, which usually means more answers when something breaks.
Needs real ops to self-host
Postiz and TryPost are capable but expect someone to run a server, updates and backups. Budget for that before choosing one.
what you give up by leaving PostFast
- nine of the eleven destinations, which need app review or a paid API tier rather than more code
- pre-approved OAuth apps for Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Google Business Profile
- the video pipeline: per-platform container, codec, aspect ratio, duration, and size rules, plus async processing and the retries for when a large upload fails partway
- token refresh and the steady patching as platform policies move
- analytics, follower history, approval workflows, and per-client workspaces
- the hosted API, MCP server, and n8n/Zapier/Make integrations that let an agent post for you
None of the picks above covers all of it. The full verdict says which gaps matter.
PostFast alternatives at a glance
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postiz | AGPL-3.0+ | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted, cli | 34,300 | 2026-08 |
| BrightBean Studio | AGPL-3.0 | they host it | web, self-hosted, cli | 2,100 | 2026-07 |
| TryPost | AGPL-3.0 | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted, cli | 468 | 2026-08 |
| Mixpost | MIT | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 6,000 | 2026-08 |
why people still pay for PostFast
Connecting Instagram or TikTok here is one click because the OAuth app behind it already passed Meta App Review, TikTok's audit, and Google's business verification, a process that takes weeks and that a solo builder often cannot qualify for at all. Video is the other half of the bill: each platform enforces its own container, codec, aspect ratio, duration, and size rules, so a working scheduler runs a real transcode pipeline with async jobs, retries, and honest failure states rather than one hopeful upload call. The subscription also absorbs the work that never finishes: tokens expiring, per-platform media rules changing, endpoints deprecating on someone else's schedule. Above that sits the part a rebuild would not reach anyway, which is cross-account analytics and follower history, approvals and workspaces for running client accounts, and an API plus MCP server so your agent schedules through it instead of you maintaining a poster forever. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $401.40 a year.
questions about switching from PostFast
Is there an open-source alternative to PostFast?
Yes: Postiz, BrightBean Studio, TryPost and 1 more. Every tool on this page is open source: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Can open source really replace PostFast?
Our verdict is YES. Postiz (34k stars), Mixpost (6k stars), BrightBean Studio (2k stars) are mature open-source replacements for PostFast — self-host with real ops work and stop paying $33.45/mo. The full verdict, and what you give up by switching, is at caniopensourceit.online/postfast.
What is the easiest open-source PostFast alternative to set up?
Mixpost — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
What is the most popular open-source PostFast alternative?
By GitHub stars, Postiz (34,300). Mixpost is next with 6,000.