Top 5 Fider Alternatives in 2026

Fider is a free, open source feedback tool that many teams consider when looking for ways to collect user input. We looked into what it offers, how it works, and what it really costs to run. Here’s what you need to know about Fider and why many teams end up choosing paid alternatives.

What is Fider? A Detailed Look

Here’s what Fider offers and where it falls short:

What Fider Does Well

Fider handles basic feedback collection. Users can submit ideas, vote on them, and leave comments. It’s open source, which means you can host it yourself and own all your data. The community around it is active and helpful.

Where Fider Falls Short

The interface feels outdated. It looks like software from 2010, with inconsistent design elements and a confusing layout. This matters because your feedback tool is customer-facing. When users click “Give Feedback” and see an outdated interface, it affects how they perceive your company.

More importantly, Fider only does feedback collection. There are no roadmaps to show what you’re planning. No changelogs to announce what you’ve built. No way to close the feedback loop with customers who submitted ideas.

The Real Cost of “Free”

While Fider’s code is free, running it isn’t. You need:

• A PostgreSQL database (around $20/month)
• A server to run Fider ($20-40/month)
• Email service like Mailgun or AWS SES ($10-35/month)
• SSL certificates, backups, and monitoring (another $30/month)
• Time to maintain it all (several hours each month)

Or you can use Fider’s managed hosting for $49/month, which is more expensive than most paid alternatives that include more features.

Setup Complexity

Setting up Fider requires Docker knowledge, PostgreSQL configuration, and SMTP setup. Even with technical experience, it takes several hours to get everything working properly. Email configuration alone can take hours of troubleshooting.

For teams that want to focus on their product rather than managing feedback infrastructure, this overhead doesn’t make sense.

TLDR: The best Fider alternatives in 2026:

1. UserJot ⭐ - Free plan with roadmaps & changelogs, no Docker required, 5-minute setup
2. Canny
3. Nolt
4. FeatureOS
5. Upvoty

If you need more than basic feedback boards or don’t want to maintain infrastructure, here are 5 alternatives that offer complete solutions without the DevOps overhead.

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1. UserJot: A Modern Take on Feedback Management

We built UserJot after seeing teams struggle with tools that were either too basic (like Fider) or too complex and expensive. We wanted to create a feedback tool that actually helps teams ship better products without the technical overhead or missing features, while keeping it affordable with straightforward pricing that makes sense.

How UserJot Addresses Fider’s Limitations:

Unlike Fider’s dated interface, UserJot has a clean, modern design that you’ll actually want to send customers to. The UI is polished and intuitive, making it easy for users to submit feedback and for your team to manage it.

Where Fider stops at basic voting, UserJot continues with the full workflow:

• Feedback boards for collecting and organizing ideas
• Product roadmaps that automatically update when you change feedback status
• Changelogs to announce what you’ve shipped and close the loop with users
• AI features that detect duplicate submissions and categorize feedback automatically

Setup and Maintenance:

Setting up UserJot takes about 5 minutes. Sign up, choose your workspace name, and you’re ready. No Docker containers, no PostgreSQL databases, no SMTP configuration. We handle all the infrastructure so you can focus on your product.

Compare this to Fider’s setup process which requires:

• Docker installation and configuration
• PostgreSQL database setup
• Email service configuration (often the most frustrating part)
• SSL certificate management
• Ongoing maintenance and updates

The Design Difference:

Your feedback tool is customer-facing. When users want to share ideas or report issues, the experience you give them matters. UserJot’s interface is designed to encourage participation, with clear actions and a pleasant experience. This typically leads to more feedback submissions compared to tools with outdated interfaces.

Pricing That Makes Sense:

• Free plan: 2 boards, unlimited posts and users, roadmap and changelog included
• Starter ($29/month): 5 boards, custom domain, guest posting, private boards
• Professional ($59/month): Unlimited boards, SSO, advanced search, all integrations

Compare this to Fider’s managed hosting at $49/month for just basic feedback collection, or the hidden costs of self-hosting (hosting, maintenance, your time).

Integration and Automation:

UserJot includes features that save time and improve engagement:

• Automatic email notifications when feedback status changes
• Weekly digest emails to keep users engaged
• Slack and Discord integrations
• Embeddable widget for in-app feedback collection
• SSO support for enterprise teams

Best for: Teams that want a feedback tool that works out of the box, looks professional, and includes everything needed to manage the full feedback-to-release cycle. If you’re considering Fider but want something more complete and easier to use, UserJot is worth trying.

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2. Canny

Canny offers what Fider promises but can’t deliver: a complete feedback-to-release workflow that’s easy to use and maintain. No servers, no Docker, just features that work.

What Makes It Different:

• Managed infrastructure - No self-hosting hassles
• Complete workflow - Feedback, roadmaps, changelogs
• Autopilot AI - Automatic organization
• Professional support - Not community-dependent
• Regular updates - Automatic, no maintenance windows
• Enterprise features - SSO, advanced permissions

Beyond Basic Boards:

Where Fider stops at voting, Canny continues with roadmap planning, changelog publishing, and closing the loop with users. It’s what modern product teams actually need.

Pricing: Free (25 tracked users), $79-359/month based on tracked users.

Best for: Teams who appreciate Fider’s philosophy but need professional features and support without managing infrastructure.

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3. Nolt

Nolt strips feedback management to essentials like Fider, but includes the missing pieces: roadmaps and changelogs. Simple, affordable, and actually complete.

What Makes It Different:

• $29/month all-inclusive - Cheaper than Fider’s managed hosting
• Roadmaps included - Not missing like Fider
• Simple changelog - Announce updates easily
• No technical requirements - Works for anyone
• 4.9/5 satisfaction - Simplicity done right
• Instant setup - No Docker knowledge needed

Simplicity That’s Actually Simple:

Fider’s “simple” requires Docker, PostgreSQL, and SMTP configuration. Nolt’s simple means signing up and starting. That’s real simplicity.

Pricing: $29/month Essential, $69/month Pro with API access.

Best for: Teams who love Fider’s minimalist approach but want something that’s actually simple to use and includes essential features.

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4. FeatureOS

FeatureOS goes beyond Fider’s basic boards with a complete product management suite. Everything Fider lacks - roadmaps, changelogs, surveys, AI - in one platform.

What Makes It Different:

• Surveys included - Gather deeper insights
• Kal AI assistant - Smart automation
• Complete analytics - Understand feedback trends
• All features standard - No limitations
• Professional hosting - 99.9% uptime guaranteed
• 10+ years stable - Proven reliability

Enterprise Without Enterprise Complexity:

While Fider targets basic needs, FeatureOS delivers enterprise capabilities without enterprise complexity. More features, zero maintenance.

Pricing: $60/month Starter, $120/month Growth, $250/month Business.

Best for: Growing teams who’ve outgrown Fider’s basic approach and need comprehensive features without infrastructure management.

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5. Upvoty

Upvoty matches Fider’s affordability while including the features Fider lacks. Not perfect, but complete and accessible without technical barriers.

What Makes It Different:

• $15/month complete - Cheaper than Fider’s managed option
• Roadmaps included - Share your plans
• Changelog built-in - Announce updates
• No Docker needed - Sign up and go
• All features included - Nothing missing
• Unlimited users - Like Fider but complete

Budget-Friendly Completeness:

While the interface isn’t as polished as others, Upvoty delivers what Fider can’t: a complete feedback-to-release workflow at a price that makes sense for small teams.

Pricing: $15/month Power, $25/month Super, $49/month Hyper.

Best for: Budget-conscious teams who need more than Fider offers but can’t justify higher-priced alternatives.

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Making the Right Choice

If you love open source: Fider remains the only true open-source option here. But consider the real cost of maintenance versus managed alternatives.

If you need complete features: UserJot, Canny, and FeatureOS offer feedback, roadmaps, and changelogs without gaps.

If budget matters most: UserJot’s free plan or Upvoty’s $15/month beat paying for Fider hosting or engineer time.

If simplicity is key: Nolt delivers Fider’s minimalism but includes essential features and requires zero technical knowledge.

For most teams: UserJot provides the best balance. Free plan for small teams, complete features, no infrastructure to manage, and modern design. It’s everything good about Fider minus the limitations and maintenance burden.

Self-hosting sounds appealing until your engineers spend more time maintaining feedback tools than building your product. Choose based on total cost, not just subscription price.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fider really free?

The software is free, but hosting isn’t. You need servers, Docker knowledge, PostgreSQL, email services, and engineer time for maintenance. Managed hosting starts at $49/month, similar to paid alternatives.

Why doesn’t Fider have roadmaps or changelogs?

Fider focuses solely on feedback collection. The philosophy is doing one thing well, but most teams need the complete workflow from feedback to release announcement.

Can I migrate from Fider?

Most alternatives offer import tools. Since Fider uses standard PostgreSQL, exporting data is straightforward. UserJot provides migration assistance to make switching smooth.

What about data ownership with Fider?

Self-hosted Fider gives complete data control. However, UserJot and others offer data export and GDPR compliance, providing ownership without the hosting burden.

Is Docker really that complicated?

For technical teams, no. For everyone else, yes. Docker adds complexity in deployment, updates, troubleshooting, and scaling that managed services handle automatically.

Which alternative is most like Fider?

Nolt is closest in philosophy - simple, focused, minimal. But it includes roadmaps and changelogs Fider lacks, making it more complete for product teams.

Should I self-host or use managed services?

Unless you have dedicated DevOps resources and specific compliance needs, managed services offer better value. Your engineers’ time is better spent on your product.

Can Fider work for large teams?

Technically yes, but practically it lacks enterprise features like advanced permissions, SSO options, and sophisticated analytics that larger teams typically need.