Loops app
Shares rank 3 of 7 video platforms by recommenders
Open-source, federated short-form video app that avoids algorithmic feeds and commercial ownership. Critics say its content and interface look too much like TikTok and it may stay small.
Open-source, federated short-form video app that avoids algorithmic feeds and commercial ownership. Critics say its content and interface look too much like TikTok and it may stay small.
45 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 21
- criticize it
- 24
- approval share
- 47%
Recommended in 2 of 13 months
- November 2025: not recommended
- December 2025: not recommended
- January 2026: not recommended
- February 2026: recommended
- March 2026: not recommended
- April 2026: not recommended
- May 2026: not recommended
- June 2026: recommended
- July 2026: not recommended
- August 2026: not recommended
- September 2026: not recommended
- October 2026: not recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it doesn’t carry the badge
- 21 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, met.
- 0.8 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, not met.
- Recommended in 2 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, not met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Open, not owned by commercial interests
“Being able to find a short form video alternative that isn't owned by commercial/government interests is a positive thing.”
Comment from 22 Feb 2026 in “Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok” “an "open" version is definitely a step in the right direction”
Comment from 22 Feb 2026 in “Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok” “Finally, federated, open-source crack!”
Comment from 23 Feb 2026 in “Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok” Not algorithm-driven, less addictive
“loops removes precisely what makes TikTok addicting”
Comment from 23 Feb 2026 in “Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok” “Loops is nice because it isn't algorithm oriented.”
Comment from 23 Feb 2026 in “Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok” Steadily improving since early days
“I think this got much better than on the early days.”
Comment from 23 Feb 2026 in “Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok” “Great to see this progressing.”
Comment from 22 Feb 2026 in “Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok”
What people warn about
Each mark is one comment
Short-form video is brainrot by design
“The content problem on TikTok was never the protocol, it's that 99% of short-form video is brainrot slop regardless of who hosts the servers.”
Comment from 23 Feb 2026 in “Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok” “These formats are designed for a specific purpose; maximizing engagement to extract value.”
Comment from 22 Feb 2026 in “Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok” “the brainrot from tiktok amplified with the brainrot from mastodon, what's not to love?”
Comment from 23 Feb 2026 in “Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok” - Comment from 23 Feb 2026 in “Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok”
- Comment from 23 Feb 2026 in “Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok”
Creator's history of overpromising
“made by dansup which has also made and runs Pixelfed, FediDB, and has a history of being hostile to developers”
Comment from 23 Feb 2026 in “Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok” “there's a consistent pattern of overpromising across this and other projects by the same person”
Comment from 22 Feb 2026 in “Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok” “stop using anything that dansup makes until he realizes he has to give up some of the control”
Comment from 23 Feb 2026 in “Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok” Likely to stay tiny user base
“it is a bit hard to find motivation to contribute to something that will most likely end up being used by like 100 people”
Comment from 23 Feb 2026 in “Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok” “Loops is going to live or die based on whether anyone on Fedi actually wants to make short-form video”
Comment from 23 Feb 2026 in “Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok” Audience and content don't appeal
“I like the platform and the concept is interesting. But the people on it are just so far away from what me (and men my age) deem interesting”
Comment from 22 Feb 2026 in “Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok” “The audience that has a 5-second attention span and jumps on the opportunity to try the paint-huffing challenge.”
Comment from 23 Feb 2026 in “Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok”
Other video platforms people recommend
The four most recommended other video platforms, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Criticize | Approval | Months | Owned | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube | 653 | 1,346 | 33% | 13 | 10 yrs21 owners | — |
| PeerTube | 66 | 30 | 69% | 10 | — | Approved |
| Loops appThis page | 21 | 24 | 47% | 2 | — | — |
| YouTube Shorts | 21 | 130 | 14% | 9 | — | — |
| Twitch | 12 | 49 | 20% | 7 | — | — |
What people said
40 of the 49 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“I use loops a lot in clubs etc and people sometimes comment on them and I explain and they're fine about it.”
“There is a lot of naivete behind the whole idea that some alternative is better because it's open source.”
“stop using anything that dansup makes until he realizes he has to give up some of the control”
“But same toxic attentions BS, so fuck this too.”
“the website and app look a little too much like Tik Tok”
“Loops is going to live or die based on whether anyone on Fedi actually wants to make short-form video”
“I think this got much better than on the early days.”
“loops removes precisely what makes TikTok addicting”
“Loops is nice because it isn't algorithm oriented.”
“The site is buggy, when you enable 2FA, you are given the qr code option only, no option for manual entry.”
“it is a bit hard to find motivation to contribute to something that will most likely end up being used by like 100 people”
“Yeah I can make a dropbox clone in a one-liner bash command too”
“Nice try, but missed the target by a mile.”
“made by dansup which has also made and runs Pixelfed, FediDB, and has a history of being hostile to developers”
“The platform is filled with so many AI generated slop”
“This project would love some additional support.”
“No burned-in branding. No trailing brand screen. No trademark brand noises.”
“The content problem on TikTok was never the protocol, it's that 99% of short-form video is brainrot slop regardless of who hosts the servers.”
“The UX should be more "mass user" friendly if the goal is to attract mainstream users.”
“Brainrot is brainrot regardless of whether it's "federated and open-source" or not.”
“The audience that has a 5-second attention span and jumps on the opportunity to try the paint-huffing challenge.”
“Finally, federated, open-source crack!”
“the brainrot from tiktok amplified with the brainrot from mastodon, what's not to love?”
“3 were promotion for the service I was currently using and only one was interesting and understandable.”
“we built an open source slot machine that you can install in your own home”
“I completed E-Mail verification, then the account was disabled immediately with a pop up message to contact support. Not worth the effort.”
“I like the platform and the concept is interesting. But the people on it are just so far away from what me (and men my age) deem interesting”
“These formats are designed for a specific purpose; maximizing engagement to extract value.”
“this undoes at least 2-3 of them”
“Great to see this progressing.”
“the UI is indistinguishable from tiktok”
“I doubt it'll ever be successful.”
“It's disposable media. In and out of brain in seconds.”
“This is actually pretty exciting.”
“I like the app but it really needs a mute function”
“I think saying it's like an open source slot machine is pretty much self-explanatory”
“there's a consistent pattern of overpromising across this and other projects by the same person”
“an "open" version is definitely a step in the right direction”
“Being able to find a short form video alternative that isn't owned by commercial/government interests is a positive thing.”
“Not something you should be proud of, no matter how much you sugarcoat it”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.