this will be next level duno :-D
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CommentFrom duno
Guide
How to create your own social network for free
Updated · by the duno team
Short answer
The fastest free way is to use a platform that hosts the network for you instead of building software. On duno you pick a name and get your own network at duno.com/net/your-name in about a minute, then choose whether it is public, private or hidden, how people join (request, open or invite-only) and who can post. Invite members with a link, add rules and a welcome message, and post a few things yourself in the first week so the feed is never empty. Other options are Facebook Groups (if everyone is on Facebook), Discord (for real-time chat and voice) or paid platforms like Mighty Networks and Circle (for paid memberships and courses).
Building a social network from scratch means hosting, moderation tools, logins, notifications and apps. For almost every club, school, family, team or fan community, a hosted platform does all of that for you. This guide uses duno as the example because it is free and built for exactly this, and notes where another tool fits better.
Step by step
Decide who it is for and what it is for
Write one sentence: "A place for ___ to ___." For example "a place for parents of Riverside High to share news and ask questions". This sentence becomes your tagline and helps you decide every setting below.
Choose public, private or hidden
Public: anyone can read posts, and the network can be found in search. Private: anyone can find it and read the About page, but only members see posts. Hidden: not listed anywhere, only people with an invite link can find it. Families and classes usually choose hidden, schools and churches private, clubs and fan communities public.
Create the network
Sign up free at duno.com, open Networks and choose "Create a network". Pick a name, an address (duno.com/net/your-name), a category and the primary language your members will post in.
Set how people join and who can post
Joining can be by request (you approve each person, optionally answering a question you set), open, or invite-only. Posting can be open to all members, need approval, or be limited to admins (an announcement channel). You can change these later.
Make it look like yours
Add a logo, cover image and colour, an About page, rules and a short welcome message new members see when they join. Pin the most important post to the top.
Invite your first members
Share an invite link where your people already are: a WhatsApp group, email, a newsletter or a QR code on a poster. Invite links can expire or be limited to a number of uses. Start with 10 to 20 people who already know each other.
Appoint moderators
Give one or two trusted members the moderator or admin role so posts get approved and questions answered even when you are away.
Keep it alive in the first month
Post two or three times a week, ask questions people can answer quickly, run a poll, and reply to every first post. Members get notified about replies and messages, so conversations keep going.
Your options at a glance
| Option | Cost | Best for | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| duno network (our product) | Free | Clubs, schools, families, teams, fans, local groups | Members need a free duno account; smaller existing audience |
| Facebook Groups | Free | Groups where everyone already uses Facebook | Lives inside Facebook, next to ads and personal feeds |
| Discord | Free, optional paid extras | Real-time chat and voice, gaming | Chat moves fast; not built for long-lived posts or search |
| WhatsApp Communities | Free | Small, very active chat groups | Phone-number based; hard to find older information |
| Mighty Networks, Circle | Paid plans | Paid memberships, courses, branded apps | Monthly cost for the owner |
| Build your own software | Developer time and hosting | Companies with unusual needs | Months of work and ongoing maintenance |
About duno
duno lets anyone create a free, ad-free social network at duno.com/net/your-name, with its own logo and rules, public, private or hidden, where the creator approves members, appoints moderators and decides who can post. Members also get messages, groups with live chat and events, a jobs board, community Q&A and a local marketplace, all free and without ads in the feed.
Create your network — freeFrequently asked questions
Can I really create a social network for free?
Yes. Hosted platforms such as duno, Facebook Groups and Discord let you create a community for free. duno networks are free and have no ads in the feed.
Do I need to know how to code?
No. You choose a name and settings in a form. Building your own software only makes sense if you need something no platform offers.
Can my social network be private?
Yes. On duno a private network shows posts only to members, and a hidden network is not listed anywhere and can only be joined with an invite link.
Can I use my own domain name?
duno networks live at duno.com/net/your-name. You can link to that address from your own website, and embed a badge or card for your network.
How many members can I have?
Start small. A network with 20 active members feels more alive than one with 500 silent ones. Grow by asking members to invite the people they would want there.
Can I charge for membership?
Not on duno; networks are free to join. If paid memberships or courses are the core of your plan, a paid platform such as Mighty Networks, Circle or Skool is the better fit.