Self-Hosted vs Hosted: How You Can Use Webring Studio

Whether you want full control over your webring setup or prefer a managed experience with zero maintenance, Webring Studio gives you the freedom to choose.

We provide both:

• A fully open source toolkit for self-hosting your ring, where you control every file and function.
• A hosted platform where we handle the infrastructure, link checking, and setup — so you can focus on connecting sites, not managing code.

This page explains what each path offers and how to decide which approach is right for you.

Option 1: Do It Yourself (The Open Source Way)

Prefer full control? Want everything running on your own domain? We’ve got you covered. Get it here.

Everything core to the webring experience is fully open source and released under the MIT License – meaning you can use it, modify it, and self-host it however you like. This includes:

• The embeddable widget (JavaScript, CSS, and HTML structure)
• The RingSniffer bot for automated link checking
• The optional bounce redirect script (ringbounce.php)
• Example JSON files and ring templates

You can:

• Host your own ring data
• Check your own site links
• Use either direct links or a local redirect system
• Avoid relying on any outside servers, including ours

This path is perfect for indie devs, digital minimalists, and anyone who wants a no-strings-attached way to run a resilient, modern webring.

Option 2: Let Us Host It (Still Free!)

If you’d rather not mess with cron jobs, JSON files, or redirect logic, you can use Webring Studio’s hosted platform.

We handle:

• Ring hosting and JSON generation
• Member management and site invites
• Automated link checks via RingSniffer 3000™
• Bounce-proof navigation (Loopkeeper™)
• Directory listings so your ring gets discovered
• One-click widget setup with custom color styling

And yes, we do all of this for free.

No ads. No data harvesting. No hidden pricing page.

Why? Because we want webrings to be accessible to everyone, not just the tech-savvy.

How Do We Make Money?

We keep the core platform free forever. But we do plan to offer optional upgrades for those who want more features and flexibility.

Optional features we may charge for now or in the future:

• Custom widget theming and branding
• Analytics dashboards (ring activity, click tracking, member health)
• Private or invite-only rings
• Team management features
• Ring snapshot backups and version history
• Ring discovery and visibility boosting tools

All of these will be opt-in and clearly marked. You’ll never be surprised, and you’ll never be locked out of your own ring.

Want to Support the Project?

If you’d like to help keep this sustainable, we gratefully accept:

• One-time or monthly donations via Buy Me a Coffee
• A featured spot for your webring on our directory’s homepage – great visibility, and it helps fund the project

Every dollar helps keep this weird little corner of the internet thriving.

Which Path Should I Choose?

Feature	Self-Hosted (Open Source)	Hosted by Webring Studio
JSON and data hosting	You	Us
Widget embedding	Yes	Yes
Link rot checking (RingSniffer)	Manual	Automatic
Bounce-proof navigation (Loopkeeper)	Self-hosted optional	Built-in
Dashboard UI	No	Yes
Directory listing	No	Yes
Optional paid upgrades	N/A	Available
Cost	Free	Free

Final Thoughts

We’re not here to trap you in a platform. We’re here to make it easier to connect your corner of the web to someone else’s.

Whether you want to roll your own webring from scratch or get started with one click and no maintenance, we’ve built Webring Studio to support both.

And whichever way you choose, you’ll always own your place in the ring.