Mixpost: A Self-Hosted Buffer Alternative for Devs Who Want Control
Tired of SaaS Social Media Tools?
If you've ever managed social media for a project or business, you’ve probably used tools like Buffer or Hootsuite—and hit their paywalls, usage limits, or privacy concerns. Mixpost offers a refreshing alternative: a self-hosted, open-source social media scheduler that runs on your own server. No subscriptions, no arbitrary limits—just full control over your content pipeline.
With over 2k GitHub stars and an MIT license, Mixpost is gaining traction among devs who want to own their stack. Let’s break down why it’s worth a look.
What It Does
Mixpost is a PHP/Laravel application that lets you:
- 📅 Schedule posts across multiple platforms (Twitter/X, Facebook, Mastodon, LinkedIn, etc.).
- ⚡ Manage content with a clean UI, including media uploads and post drafts.
- 📊 Track performance with basic analytics (no fancy AI, just the essentials).
- 🔒 Self-host—no third-party servers holding your data hostage.
Think of it as a lightweight Buffer clone you can run on a $5 DigitalOcean droplet.
Why It’s Cool
- No Vendor Lock-In: Your data stays on your infrastructure.
- Extensible: Built with Laravel, so it’s easy to modify or add integrations (e.g., custom APIs).
- Active Development: Recent updates include Facebook Graph API v23 support and Tailwind CSS upgrades.
- Cost-Effective: Free forever (minus server costs), unlike SaaS tools that charge per user or post.
How to Try It
- Requirements: PHP 8.1+, MySQL, Redis, and Composer.
- Install: Clone the repo and follow the setup guide.
git clone https://github.com/inovector/mixpost.git cd mixpost composer install - Demo: Check out the live demo at mixpost.app (but remember, self-hosting is the real win).
Final Thoughts
Mixpost isn’t for everyone—if you need enterprise-grade analytics or team collaboration, stick with Buffer. But for indie devs, small businesses, or privacy-conscious teams, it’s a solid, no-nonsense alternative. The fact that it’s actively maintained (see CHANGELOG) makes it even more appealing.
Give it a spin if you’ve ever thought, “I wish I could self-host this” while using a social media tool.