Narwhal

Best Self Hosted Alternatives to Narwhal

A curated collection of the 2 best self hosted alternatives to Narwhal.

Narwhal is an iOS Reddit client for browsing subreddits, reading and composing posts and comments, managing multiple accounts, and customizing feed and display settings for mobile-optimized Reddit use.

Alternatives List

#1
Lurker

Lurker

Lurker is a self-hosted, read-only Reddit client with a mobile-first UI, minimal JavaScript, sqlite storage and account/invite subscription management.

Lurker is a lightweight, self-hosted web front-end for browsing Reddit in a read-only fashion. It focuses on a mobile-optimized, low-JavaScript experience and provides basic account and invite management for controlled access.

Key Features

  • Read-only Reddit client with mobile-first rendering and responsive layouts
  • Minimal client-side JavaScript and server-rendered Pug templates for fast page loads
  • Account-based subscription management with invite-only user administration
  • Pagination, comment collapsing, jump-to-next/previous comment navigation
  • Search-on-undelete helper for deleted comments and hidden spoiler/NSFW content hidden by default
  • Stores instance data in a local SQLite database for simple setup and backup
  • Provides a small admin dashboard for invites and basic user management

Use Cases

  • Host a private, invite-only Reddit browsing instance for friends or a small community
  • Provide a lightweight, mobile-friendly Reddit front-end for low-resource devices or networks
  • Browse and review deleted or archived comments with search and collapse tools

Limitations and Considerations

  • Read-only: no posting, voting, or account syncing with official Reddit accounts
  • Uses a local SQLite file with no built-in option to change the storage backend or database path
  • Minimal feature expansion expected; intentionally avoids heavy JavaScript and large feature additions

Lurker is designed for simple, private Reddit browsing with low operational overhead. It is suitable where a lightweight, privacy-conscious, read-only front-end is preferred over a full-featured Reddit client.

282stars
19forks
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#2
Eddrit

Eddrit

A compact, privacy-minded read-only frontend for Reddit with mobile-friendly UI, RSS support, and easy self-hosting using Python and ASGI.

Eddrit is a lightweight alternative frontend for Reddit that provides a compact, privacy-focused browsing experience. It replicates Reddit pages with a simpler UI and improved mobile support while avoiding ads and heavy tracking.

Key Features

  • Lightweight, compact design inspired by old Reddit for fast, minimal browsing
  • Read-only frontend that proxies Reddit content without embedding trackers or ads
  • Mimics the official Android app to access Reddit endpoints without requiring OAuth for self-hosting
  • Basic RSS support for subreddits and posts with rewritten URLs pointing to the instance
  • Implemented in Python using an ASGI stack for efficient async handling
  • Easy deployment: Docker and docker-compose configurations plus a Makefile for common tasks
  • Frontend built with standard web technologies and Bootstrap/Pico.css for responsive UI

Use Cases

  • Privacy-friendly browsing of Reddit content without ads or trackers
  • Running a small public or private instance to mirror subreddit pages for users or communities
  • Consuming subreddit feeds via rewritten RSS for integration with feed readers or aggregators

Limitations and Considerations

  • Primarily a read-only frontend: interactive features that require Reddit authentication (posting, voting, private messages) are not the focus and may be limited or unsupported
  • Functionality depends on Reddit endpoints and may break or require updates if Reddit changes its APIs or rate-limiting behavior
  • Media handling can be limited compared to the official client; some video or hosted content may not play identically to Reddit

Eddrit is a pragmatic option for users who want a fast, no-frills view of Reddit content with better mobile behavior and RSS interoperability. It is suitable for self-hosting and small public instances where privacy and simplicity are priorities.

156stars
7forks
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Why choose an open source alternative?

  • •Data ownership: Keep your data on your own servers
  • •No vendor lock-in: Freedom to switch or modify at any time
  • •Cost savings: Reduce or eliminate subscription fees
  • •Transparency: Audit the code and know exactly what's running