Hubs vs TrueMetaverse

Hubs is a browser-based virtual collaboration platform for creating shared 3D spaces that people can join by URL. Rooms support spatialized audio and text chat, as well as sharing images, videos, 3D models, and other media. The platform can host conferences, classes, art showcases, or remote social gatherings. Spoke, a browser-based scene editor, lets users build Hubs environments from 3D models, images, videos, and other assets; its media discovery includes a Sketchfab integration. Hubs is open source and customizable, and its Community Edition can be self-hosted. Administrators can configure an instance, import assets, manage users, and moderate contributed content. An account is not required to use Hubs, although some features require sign-in. It works with VR headsets and can also be explored in 2D on computers, tablets, and mobile devices. Community Edition is free software, but hosting, domain, and email services may have separate costs. The documentation warns that a significant portion is outdated and that Hubs by Mozilla and Hubs Cloud are obsolete.

TrueMetaverse is a free, MIT-licensed, self-hosted realtime 2D world for studying, meetings, presentations, games, and shared online time. Users create or join pixel-art spaces with realtime presence, grid movement, collision-aware maps, and short room codes. Five maps are included, along with a server-controlled Hide & Seek mode for 3–12 players per room. Shared activities use LiveKit audio and video rooms, screen sharing, and a synchronized Excalidraw whiteboard controlled by its creator. Study sessions provide persistent timers and daily, weekly, monthly, and all-time leaderboards. The product runs in a browser, with keyboard controls on desktop and joystick and zoom controls on touch devices. Docker deployment can place the frontend, APIs, realtime server, database, media services, TLS, and TURN on one VPS. The README describes JWT authentication, salted scrypt password hashing, per-IP failed-login limits, and server-side validation. Restarting the single WebSocket process clears room, whiteboard, and active game state.