Network

Welcome to the MakeArmy Network

A collection of free and open source decentralized alternatives to modern social media focused on makers like you. Sign up and participation is 100% absolutely free. If you enjoy these platforms though you may want to support us.

[Watch]

YouTube, but actually YOU.

PeerTube is like YouTube, but without the ads, algorithms, or corporate control. Videos are shown in chronological order, meaning your followers see your content as soon as you post it. It’s perfect for tutorials, project showcases, and creative content related to laser engraving, maker culture, and more. The user experience is focused on community and discovery—no suggested videos to distract you, just pure creativity and engagement. Unlike mainstream platforms, PeerTube is built to respect your privacy, with no tracking or data selling. It’s the go-to place if you want to share videos without the noise and connect with a community that truly appreciates your work.

[Pixels]

Visual Maker Experiences

PixelFed offers a clean, ad-free experience where your posts appear in a chronological feed, so you see content in the order it’s shared, without any algorithms deciding what’s important. It’s great for sharing photos and visual creations—like your latest laser engraving projects—and getting direct feedback from fellow creators. Unlike Instagram, there's no need to worry about curating a perfect image for an algorithm. Just post and engage with a community that shares your passion for design, craftsmanship, and creativity.

[Lemmy]

Reddit Alternative for Makers

On Lemmy, you get a forum-like experience that’s more about discussions and shared interests than quick, scattered posts. It’s perfect for conversations, advice, and resources related to laser engraving, making things, and other hobbies. The experience is more relaxed and focused on real engagement, whether you’re asking for tips, sharing a tutorial, or just chatting with others about new tech or projects. Unlike Reddit, Lemmy doesn’t have upvoting algorithms or ads cluttering the experience. If you’re into in-depth discussions or want to share insights about your craft, Lemmy is where you belong.

[Mastodon]

Twitter Minus Drama

Mastodon is like a smaller, independent version of Twitter, where your timeline is in chronological order and you can connect with specific communities that share your interests. It’s great for short-form posts, sharing updates on projects, or engaging in brief discussions about laser engraving, maker culture, and creative techniques. Mastodon’s user experience is very focused on privacy and autonomy, with no ads or algorithms determining what’s in your feed. It’s where you go if you want to share quick thoughts, ideas, or creative updates with a like-minded, ad-free community.

[Write]

Focused Community Blogging

WriteFreely gives you a minimalist, distraction-free writing space where you can focus entirely on content without worrying about likes, shares, or comments. It’s perfect for longer-form content such as in-depth guides, project write-ups, or personal reflections on your engraving journey. The experience feels like a simple blog—where writing is the priority—without ads or distractions. If you’re into sharing articles, tutorials, or stories about your work and want to engage with readers who value thoughtful content, WriteFreely offers a calm, focused platform for your words to shine.

=================

What happened to the old network.makearmy.io site?

The Network is coming to an end (and replaced with MUCH better stuff, see above)

While a fun experiment the software behind the MakeArmy Network has too many flaws to be useful and we don't have the funding or the time to keep up on maintenance for it to get it where we'd like to be. With Vinny's passing we lost our code expert and simply can't continue to dump resources into keeping it running. That said we have some VERY COOL new sites for you guys to check out and I sincerely hope you'll join us there. These services have ACTIVE development communities and receive REGULAR updates. Learn more about the options above and thank you so much for giving the old Network a chance. It was an interesting experiment but we need better long term solutions capable of growth and expansion. Above are some amazing alternatives that we SELF HOST on the Laser Everything Network.