Comparison
Quackback vs Fider
Both are open source. Quackback adds roadmaps, changelogs, and AI agent support to the open source feedback stack.
Fider is a lightweight open-source feedback tool focused on voting. Quackback extends the open-source model with roadmaps, changelogs, AI features, and native integrations.
Roadmap
Yes
vs No
Changelog
Yes
vs No
AI Features
Yes
vs No
Integrations
Slack + more
vs Webhooks
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | Quackback | Fider |
|---|---|---|
| Core Features | ||
Feedback Boards Collect and organize user feedback and feature requests | Yes | Yes |
Public Roadmap Share your product plans publicly with users | Yes | No |
Changelog Announce shipped features and updates | Yes | No |
Auto-Notify Voters Email users when their requested feature ships | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations & API | ||
Slack Integration Get notified about new feedback in Slack | Yes | No |
Discord Integration Sync feedback notifications to Discord | Yes | No |
Linear Integration Create Linear issues from feedback posts | Yes | No |
Webhooks HTTP callbacks for feedback events | Yes | Yes |
REST API Programmatic access to all feedback data | Yes | Yes |
| AI & Automation | ||
AI Features AI-assisted triage and changelog drafting | Yes | No |
MCP Server (AI Agents) AI agents can search, triage, and manage feedback | Yes | No |
| Authentication | ||
Email OTP (Passwordless) One-time password login via email | Yes | Yes |
OAuth (GitHub, Google) Sign in with existing accounts | Yes | Yes |
SSO Enterprise single sign-on support | OIDC | OAuth2 (custom providers) |
| Customization & Hosting | ||
Custom Branding Logo, colors, fonts, and corner radius customization | Yes | Logo + CSS |
Docker Self-Hosting Deploy on your own infrastructure with Docker | Yes | Yes |
License Open source license type | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
Two open source tools, different scope
Beyond basic voting
Fider and Quackback share the same philosophy: open source, self-hosted, and free under AGPL-3.0. The difference is scope. Fider is a focused voting tool — it collects feedback and lets users vote, and it does that well with a lightweight Go and React stack. But it stops there. No roadmap to show what is planned. No changelog to announce what shipped. No native Slack or Discord integration. No AI to help with triage as feedback volume grows. Quackback covers the full feedback loop in one deployment: boards, voting, public roadmap, changelog with voter notifications, and AI-powered duplicate detection through the MCP server.
For a broader survey of the space, see our guide to open source feedback tools and self-hosted feedback tools.
Who should choose which
Choose Fider if you receive a handful of feature requests per week, need a minimal resource footprint, and only need a voting board. Fider's Go binary runs well on 256MB of RAM and its simpler codebase is easier to audit. Choose Quackback if you need the full feedback cycle — collecting, prioritizing, building, and announcing — in one tool. Once your product hits 20+ submissions per day, Quackback's AI triage and native integrations save hours of manual work that Fider requires you to do by hand.
Migration
Both tools use PostgreSQL, so data migration is straightforward. Export your Fider posts and votes, then import into Quackback via CSV. Post titles, descriptions, vote counts, and statuses all transfer. Run both tools side by side during the transition — both deploy with Docker — and point your domain at Quackback once the data is verified.
Pricing comparison
Quackback
Cloud, or self-host free (AGPL-3.0)
- Free Cloud plan (1 seat)
- Paid from $29/mo billed annually
- Full product self-hosted free
Fider
Feedback voting tool (AGPL-3.0)
- Feedback boards only
- Webhooks only
- No AI features
How costs compare at scale
| Usage | Quackback | Fider |
|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted software | $0 | $0 |
| Managed cloud | Free / $29+/mo | Fider Cloud (hosted) |
| Roadmap + changelog | Included | Separate tools needed |
| AI features | Included on paid Cloud | Not included |
When to choose Fider
Choose Fider if you want a simple self-hosted voting tool and don't need roadmaps, changelogs, or native integrations. Fider uses a Go + React stack and has a smaller feature set that may be easier to manage if you only need basic feedback collection.
Where Fider excels
- Lightweight Go + React stack with smaller resource footprint
- Simpler codebase that's easier to audit and customize
- Mature project with years of stability in production
- Same AGPL-3.0 license and self-hosting model
- Focused scope — does one thing (voting) well
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Are both Quackback and Fider truly open source?
Yes. Both are licensed under AGPL-3.0 and can be self-hosted. The key difference is scope: Fider focuses on feedback voting, while Quackback provides feedback boards, roadmaps, changelogs, and AI features in one package.
Is Quackback harder to self-host than Fider?
Both deploy with Docker. Quackback uses Docker Compose for a one-command setup. The setup process is comparable in complexity.
Can I migrate from Fider to Quackback?
Yes. You can export your Fider data and import it into Quackback via CSV. Both platforms use PostgreSQL, which makes data migration straightforward.
What is Fider's tech stack vs Quackback's?
Fider uses Go and React. Quackback uses TypeScript (TanStack Start, React 19, Drizzle ORM, PostgreSQL). Both self-host with Docker. The choice comes down to language preference and feature requirements.
Does Fider have a public roadmap feature?
No. Fider focuses on voting boards for collecting and prioritizing feedback. Quackback includes a public roadmap with kanban views and status columns, so users can see what is planned, in progress, and completed.
Which uses fewer server resources?
Fider's Go binary is lighter, typically running well on 256MB of RAM. Quackback requires more resources but includes a broader feature set — roadmaps, changelogs, AI features, and native integrations. The trade-off is resource footprint versus functionality.
A clean way out
Replace Fider with Quackback
Start on Quackback Cloud, or run the same open-source platform on your own infrastructure.