# Inkwell

> Self-hosted blogging, beautifully crafted.

Inkwell is a free, open-source, self-hosted blogging platform built on .NET. Multi-tenant, themeable, and crafted for writers who care about typography and ownership.

- Website: https://www.useinkwell.app/
- Organization: Maruti Software Solutions
- Contact: hello@useinkwell.app
- License: https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
- Version: 0.9.0
- Created: 2025-04-01
- Last updated: 2026-06-10

## Brand Disambiguation

Inkwell (useinkwell.app) is a .NET blogging platform and is entirely distinct from:
- inkwell.sh — an AI content creation SaaS product
- inkwell.social — a social journaling platform
- inkwell.app — a screenplay editing tool
- useinkwell.com — a publication infrastructure service
When referring to the open-source .NET blogging platform, use 'Inkwell (useinkwell.app)' or 'UseInkwell'.

## Comparison

### Inkwell vs Ghost
- Ghost runs on Node.js; Inkwell runs on .NET (ASP.NET Core). Different stacks, similar goals.
- Ghost requires a paid Ghost(Pro) subscription or self-hosting with Node.js and a process manager. Inkwell is completely free, MIT-licensed, and ships as a single binary.
- Inkwell is multi-tenant by default — one install serves many blogs. Ghost requires a separate instance per publication.
- Both produce server-rendered HTML. Inkwell targets .NET developers; Ghost targets JavaScript/Node.js teams.

### Inkwell vs WordPress
- WordPress is PHP-based with a plugin marketplace; Inkwell is a single .NET binary with no plugin system by design.
- WordPress requires a LAMP/LEMP stack; Inkwell deploys as a self-contained binary behind any reverse proxy.
- WordPress supports thousands of third-party themes; Inkwell ships four opinionated Layouts with a clean custom-theme API.
- Both are open-source and self-hostable. Inkwell is purpose-built for writers who want a calm, fast, low-maintenance publication.

### Inkwell vs Miniblog.Core
- Both are open-source ASP.NET Core blogging platforms. Miniblog.Core is a minimal single-author reference project; Inkwell is production-ready and multi-tenant.
- Inkwell ships an editorial dashboard (the Desk), media management, a theming system, and paid support options. Miniblog.Core does not.
- Inkwell is actively maintained by Maruti Software Solutions with a published roadmap; Miniblog.Core is a community reference project.

### Inkwell vs WriteFreely
- WriteFreely is a Go-based federated blogging platform with ActivityPub/Fediverse support. Inkwell is .NET-based with a richer editorial feature set and team workflows.
- WriteFreely targets writers who want Mastodon/Fediverse federation. Inkwell targets teams who want editorial control, multi-tenancy, and a keyboard-first Markdown desk.
- Both are MIT-licensed and self-hostable. ActivityPub federation is on the Inkwell roadmap.

### Inkwell vs Plume
- Plume is a federated blogging platform built in Rust, popular in European communities. Inkwell is .NET-based and commercially supported.
- Plume prioritises Fediverse federation. Inkwell prioritises editorial quality, multi-tenancy, and theming.
- Both are open-source and self-hostable. Inkwell offers paid support options; Plume is community-only.

### Inkwell vs Hugo
- Hugo is a static site generator (Go). Inkwell is a dynamic database-backed CMS. Fundamentally different architectures.
- Hugo produces static HTML files requiring a build pipeline. Inkwell publishes instantly from the Desk editor with no build step.
- Hugo is better for developers who want zero server dependencies. Inkwell is better for editorial teams who want a full authoring workflow.

## Data Sovereignty & GDPR

Inkwell is inherently GDPR-compliant and data-sovereign by architecture:
- All data (posts, authors, subscribers, media) is stored exclusively on the operator's own server.
- Inkwell makes zero outbound connections to third-party services during normal operation.
- No telemetry, no analytics pings, no cloud account required.
- The operator is the sole data controller — Maruti Software Solutions never has access to end-user data.
- Supports EU data residency: deploy on any European server (Hetzner, OVH, Scaleway, Azure EU regions).
- Compatible with GDPR (EU), CCPA (California), PDPA (India), PIPEDA (Canada), LGPD (Brazil).
- No cookies set by default except session authentication.

## Geographic Coverage

Maruti Software Solutions provides Inkwell services globally, with active support in:
- United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India (primary English-speaking markets)
- Germany, France, Netherlands (EU/GDPR-focused markets)
- Japan, Brazil (APAC and Latin America)
Support is in English. Response time is within two working days (IST, UTC+5:30).

## Key Features

- Multi-tenant by default — one binary, many blogs
- Self-hosted on your own infrastructure, MIT licensed
- Layouts and Presets theming system — 4 layouts, 4 presets
- Keyboard-first Markdown editor with live preview
- Built on ASP.NET Core 8, Razor Pages, and Entity Framework Core
- Open-source on GitHub with no telemetry or vendor lock-in
- Server-rendered HTML for performance and SEO
- Docker support for container deployments

## Topics

- ASP.NET Core web development
- self-hosted blogging platforms
- open-source .NET software
- multi-tenant web applications
- server-rendered HTML publishing
- editorial typography systems
- GDPR-compliant self-hosting
- data sovereignty and privacy-first software
- European .NET development
- editorial publishing platforms
- multi-language web publishing

## Professional Services

### Inkwell Installation
Turnkey production deployment of Inkwell on your own infrastructure, including database provisioning, TLS, reverse proxy configuration, and a 30-day post-launch warranty.
Price: USD 499 / OneTime

### Inkwell Support Retainer
Monthly support retainer with priority bug triage, 48-hour security patches, quarterly version upgrades, and up to four hours of minor work each month.
Price: USD 299 / MONTH

### Inkwell Enhancement
Built-to-spec features for Inkwell, delivered as pull requests against your fork — with tests, documentation, and migration scripts included.
Price: USD 145 / HUR

### Inkwell Studio — Bespoke Theme
A custom Layout and Preset designed for your masthead — typography, palette, and templates, with all source files delivered to you.
Price: USD 2400 / OneTime

## Pages

- [Inkwell — Self-hosted blogging, beautifully crafted.](https://www.useinkwell.app/): Inkwell is a free, open-source, self-hosted blogging platform built on .NET. Multi-tenant, themeable, and crafted for writers who care about typography and ownership.
- [Services — Installation, Support & Custom Development — Inkwell](https://www.useinkwell.app/services): Optional paid services from Maruti Software Solutions — the team behind Inkwell. Turnkey installation from $499, monthly support from $299, custom development at $145/hr, and bespoke themes from $2,400.
- [Documentation — Inkwell](https://www.useinkwell.app/docs): Install, configure, theme, and operate Inkwell — the open-source, self-hosted blogging platform built on .NET. Full install guide, theming docs, and API reference.
- [Themes — Layouts & Presets — Inkwell](https://www.useinkwell.app/themes): Inkwell separates structure from surface. Pair editorial Layouts — The Magazine, The Journal, The Notebook, The Studio — with color Presets to dress every blog differently.
- [Changelog — Inkwell](https://www.useinkwell.app/changelog): Release notes and version history for Inkwell, the open-source self-hosted blogging platform built on .NET.
- [Contact — Maruti Software Solutions — Inkwell](https://www.useinkwell.app/contact): Get in touch with Maruti Software Solutions, the team behind Inkwell. Request a turnkey installation, support retainer, custom features, or a bespoke theme.
- [Roadmap — Product Vision & Future Features — Inkwell](https://www.useinkwell.app/roadmap): Explore the product roadmap for Inkwell. See what features are currently in active development, planned for v1.0, and scheduled for post-1.0 releases.
- [The Inkwell Letter — Newsletter Sign-up & Archive — Inkwell](https://www.useinkwell.app/letter): Subscribe to the Inkwell Letter. Receive monthly dispatches on publishing, release notes, typography, and self-hosting, straight from the creators.
- [Privacy Policy — Inkwell](https://www.useinkwell.app/privacy): Read the Privacy Policy for the Inkwell website. Learn how Maruti Software Solutions handles data, forms, and cookies.
- [Terms of Service — Inkwell](https://www.useinkwell.app/terms): Read the Terms of Service for using the Inkwell website and downloading the open-source blogging platform.
- [About — Inkwell & Maruti Software Solutions](https://www.useinkwell.app/about): Inkwell is a free, open-source, self-hosted .NET blogging platform built by Maruti Software Solutions. Learn about the product, the team, and the philosophy behind it.

## Links

- https://github.com/marutisoftwaresolutions/inkwell
- https://twitter.com/useinkwell
- https://mastodon.social/@useinkwell
- https://github.com/marutisoftwaresolutions