Best Social Network Softwares in 2025 Comparison
If you’re a new entrepreneur or business person looking to build your own social network, this year offers more opportunity than ever before. With brands and communities craving deeper connections, choosing the best CMS for a social network website is a strategic move. The right social networking CMS can help you create a social network website that not only engages users, but also grows and monetises.
In this article you’ll get an in-depth look at the top platforms of 2025, see a clear social network software comparison, and walk away empowered to pick the platform that fits your business. We’ll highlight how to launch a social media platform, show what features matter, and help you grow your online community.
Why You Need a Dedicated Social Networking CMS
Before diving into comparisons, let’s understand why a specialized CMS is crucial when you want to build your own social network.
Unlike typical website builders, a social networking CMS is engineered for:
- User interaction: Profiles, feeds, messages, comments, likes, and groups
- Community engagement: Polls, events, live chats, or even short videos
- Monetization: Ads, memberships, and subscription systems
- Scalability: Handling thousands of active users in real-time
For entrepreneurs, this means you can launch a social media platform that truly feels like a custom version of Facebook, LinkedIn, or Reddit — without the years of development time or the million-dollar budget.
Top 7 Social Network Platforms in 2025 (Feature Comparison)
Let’s start with a quick overview of the seven leading contenders in the market.
| Platform | Core Focus | Deployment Model | Pricing (Starting) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHPfox (MetaFox) | Powerful niche communities, monetization | Self-hosted or SaaS | $639 one-time / $39 per month | Businesses & startups |
| SocialEngine | White-label social CMS | Self-hosted | $599 one-time | Professional communities |
| mooSocial | Extensible, feature-rich | Self-hosted | $299 one-time | Interest groups, local networks |
| Elgg | Open-source social framework | Self-hosted (free) | Free (core) | Developers & institutions |
| ShaunSocial | Modern Laravel/Vue.js stack | Self-hosted or SaaS | $199 one-time / $49 per month | Startups & enterprises |
| Wowonder | Low-cost PHP social script | Self-hosted | From $120 | Solo entrepreneurs, tech users |
PHPfox (MetaFox) — The Established Powerhouse
PHPfox continues to dominate as a robust social networking CMS designed for entrepreneurs who want a ready-to-launch solution. Its latest framework, MetaFox, built on Laravel and React, represents a major step toward modern web performance.
Key Highlights
- Full-featured feed, profiles, groups, blogs, and live streaming
- Built-in monetization tools (Marketplace, Subscriptions, Ads, Activity Points)
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android
- Over 150+ payment gateways via Paymentwall integration
Best for: Businesses seeking an all-in-one platform with proven scalability, ideal for monetized niche communities.
Drawback: Transitioning from older PHPfox versions to MetaFox can be complex if your system is heavily customized.
SocialEngine — The White-Label Customization Champion
If branding and control are your top priorities, SocialEngine stands out. Since 2007, it’s been a favorite among companies wanting a fully white-labeled CMS that requires no coding to manage.
Key Highlights
- Drag-and-drop Layout Editor for non-technical users
- Advanced member management and paid membership tiers
- Optional GDPR plugin for data compliance
- Built-in iOS and Android apps
Best for: Entrepreneurs or marketing managers who want to launch a branded social platform quickly with minimal developer involvement.
Drawback: The plugin ecosystem is powerful but can become costly if you rely heavily on premium add-ons.
mooSocial — The Feature-Rich Contender
mooSocial is often described as the balanced middle ground between affordability and professional features. It’s well-optimized for small and medium-sized networks that need ads, stores, and community tools without overcomplication.
Key Highlights
- Monetization tools like Ads and Store plugins
- Easy customization via themes and plugins
- Strong reporting dashboard for administrators
- Perpetual license with full source code
Best for: Businesses that want a self-hosted social platform with a focus on commerce and engagement.
Drawback: Less mainstream visibility and fewer third-party extensions than competitors.
Elgg — The Open Source Framework for Developers
Elgg is not a plug-and-play platform. Instead, it’s a developer’s framework for building a custom social network from scratch.
Key Highlights
- Free and open-source
- Highly flexible for custom social apps
- Formal Long-Term Support (LTS) releases for security
- Large plugin community
Best for: Developers or institutions who want total architectural control and don’t mind coding every detail.
Drawback: While free, scaling Elgg for thousands of users requires costly infrastructure such as Elastic Stack integration and developer expertise.
ShaunSocial — The Modern Stack Innovator
Among all options in 2025, ShaunSocial emerges as one of the most modern and forward-looking CMS solutions. Built with Laravel (backend), Vue.js (frontend), and Flutter (mobile), it delivers exceptional performance, scalability, and flexibility.
Key Highlights
- Unified modern stack reduces technical debt
- Self-hosted license ($199) or Cloud hosting ($49/month)
- Full source code access and RESTful APIs
- Built-in features: polls, groups, live chat, short videos
- Flutter mobile apps with a single codebase for iOS and Android
Best for: Startups and enterprises that need a future-proof social network software with modern UX and low maintenance.
Drawback: Being newer to the market, it still builds its long-term ecosystem, though its technology stack ensures longevity.
Wowonder — The Low-Cost Script Option
Wowonder offers a budget-friendly option for individuals or developers who want to quickly deploy a social platform. It boasts fast performance, Bootstrap design, and Amazon S3 support.
Key Highlights
- One-time license from as low as $120
- Monetization tools (subscriptions, ads)
- Optional mobile apps via API integration
Best for: Entrepreneurs with strong technical skills looking for a low-cost entry point.
Drawback: Not recommended for non-developers — requires coding experience for customization and maintenance.
Feature Analysis
When choosing the best social network software in 2025, entrepreneurs should evaluate platforms across five key areas:
1. Architecture and Modernity
Modern frameworks like Laravel and Vue.js dominate because they are scalable, secure, and supported by large developer communities. ShaunSocial leads here, while PHPfox is transitioning to MetaFox to stay relevant.
2. Ease of Customization
If you’re not a developer, SocialEngine provides the best customization experience with visual tools. However, developers may prefer open frameworks like Elgg or ShaunSocial for deeper flexibility.
3. Mobile Support
Flutter-based mobile apps (ShaunSocial) are the most efficient to maintain. Platforms with separate native apps (PHPfox, SocialEngine) increase long-term costs.
4. Cost and Ownership
Self-hosted licenses like ShaunSocial ($199) or mooSocial ($299) offer the best long-term value. SaaS plans like PHPfox’s cloud version ($39/month) are easier but costlier over time.
5. Support and Security
Vendors with structured release and support policies — like Elgg (LTS) and PHPfox (SaaS) — ensure long-term stability. Open-source options require internal expertise.
Pros and Cons Summary
| Platform | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| PHPfox | Mature, full-featured, great monetization tools | High upfront cost, migration complexity |
| SocialEngine | Easy white-label customization | Costly add-ons, older core |
| mooSocial | Affordable and extensible | Limited visibility and integrations |
| Elgg | Completely free, flexible | Requires developer expertise |
| ShaunSocial | Modern tech stack, low cost | Newer ecosystem |
| Wowonder | Extremely low entry price | High maintenance risk |
Cost Comparison: Self-Hosted vs Cloud
Choosing between self-hosted and cloud models affects both budget and control.
| Platform | Self-Hosted Cost (One-time) | Cloud/SaaS Cost (Per Month) | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHPfox | $639 | $39 | Businesses seeking stability |
| SocialEngine | $599 | N/A | Niche professional networks |
| mooSocial | $299 | N/A | SMEs and small communities |
| ShaunSocial | $199 | $49 | Startups & tech-savvy founders |
| Wowonder | $120 | N/A | Developer projects |
If you plan to grow your online community while keeping long-term costs low, a self-hosted CMS like ShaunSocial or mooSocial provides the best return on investment.
How to Choose the Right Social Network CMS Checklist
- Define your purpose – Is it for business, education, or entertainment?
- Set your budget – Factor in license, hosting, and support.
- Decide on control – Do you want full source code access or a managed cloud?
- Prioritize scalability – Will you grow from 1,000 to 100,000 users?
- Evaluate support options – Look for LTS policies or vendor-managed hosting.
- Test the UX – A smooth interface boosts engagement and retention.
Recommendation
After comparing all major platforms, here’s our verdict:
✅ Best Overall Choice for 2025: ShaunSocial
It delivers a future-proof solution with a modern stack, affordable entry price, full customization control, and efficient Flutter mobile apps. Ideal for entrepreneurs and growing startups.
🏆 Best for Non-Developers: SocialEngine
Its visual layout tools and strong admin controls make it the easiest CMS to manage without coding.
Conclusion
Launching a social network site is no longer restricted to large tech companies. With the best social network software 2025, you can build your own social network, control your brand experience, and engage deeply with your community.
Whether you choose ShaunSocial, SocialEngine, PHPfox or another platform from this list, make sure your decision aligns with your budget, audience size, technical skill and growth plan.
If you’re ready to get started, download trial versions of your top 2-3 CMS, test them in a sandbox environment, explore plugin ecosystems, evaluate responsible costs, and pick the one that will scale with you. Then dive into creating your social community and watch it grow.