IdeaLoom
IdeaLoom is an open-source collective intelligence platform for large communities working through complex issues and developing solutions.
What IdeaLoom is
IdeaLoom is an open-source collective intelligence platform for large communities working through complex issues and developing solutions. It pairs threaded forum conversations with an evolving concept map made from ideas participants identify. Members can quote messages or web pages, link threads to ideas, and edit an idea table together in real time. Decision tools include token voting and multi-criterion sessions with multiple-choice, yes-no, and one- or two-dimensional scale questions. Communities can define roles and permissions and choose public discussions, invitation-only access, or restricted self-registration. The platform supports email notifications and replies, imports from mailing lists, RSS/Atom feeds, Facebook pages, and Drupal sites, plus automated translation and moderation by designated people. Integrations also include web annotation tools and YouTube videos. IdeaLoom is available under an AGPL license; communities can use Conversence services or install it on their own servers with Docker or source instructions. Documentation describes Cornice RESTful services and a traversal API. Installation guidance says the software has been tested on Ubuntu, Debian, and Mac OS. The project was founded in 2016.
Good
- Combines threaded discussions with an evolving concept map.
- Participants can edit the idea table together in real time.
- Offers token and multi-criterion voting.
- Communities can choose public or restricted access.
Watch out
- Self-hosting requires using Docker or source instructions.
- Installation guidance lists Ubuntu, Debian, and Mac OS.
- Documentation marks nginx security guidance as TODO.
Who it suits
IdeaLoom suits diverse communities discussing complex problems and building shared understanding. It is aimed at groups that want structured discussion, collaborative idea synthesis, and voting tools.
Verdict
IdeaLoom brings discussion, idea organization, and voting into a community platform released under the AGPL license. Communities can self-host it or arrange services with Conversence, and can configure participation and moderation to fit their needs.
The facts
Each one read from IdeaLoom's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API
- The technical documentation describes two major APIs: a Cornice-based API and a traversal API.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Community access
- Discussions can be public, private by invitation, or allow restricted self-registration; participants can register with email or social network accounts.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Community controls
- Communities can define roles and permissions and set discussions to public, invitation-only, or restricted self-registration.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Conversation structure
- It combines threaded forum messages with a table of ideas that forms a concept map of conversation topics.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Conversation tools
- It supports email notifications and replies, imports from mailing lists, RSS/Atom feeds, Facebook pages, and Drupal sites, and automated translation services.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Decision tools
- It supports token voting and multi-criterion voting with multiple choice, yes-no, and one- or two-dimensional scales.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Email and content imports
- It can import conversations from mailing lists, RSS/Atom feeds, Facebook pages, and Drupal sites, and email replies to notifications can join the conversation.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Hosting
- Conversence offers services around IdeaLoom, and users can also install it on their own servers from a Docker image or from source.checked 11 Oct 2026
- How it works
- It combines threaded forum conversations with an evolving concept map of ideas identified by participants.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Idea synthesis
- Participants can extract quotes from messages or web pages, relate message threads to ideas, and collaboratively edit the idea table in real time.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The features page names mailing lists, RSS/Atom feeds, Facebook pages, Drupal, email, web annotation tools, and YouTube videos.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- Conversence describes IdeaLoom as suited to complex problems involving diverse communities and offers advice and help getting conversations started.checked 11 Oct 2026
- License
- IdeaLoom is open-source under the AGPL license.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- IdeaLoom is a collective intelligence platform for helping large communities hold meaningful conversations, reach shared understanding, and develop solutions.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Security and backups
- The documentation describes encrypted Borg backups and advises keeping backup keys safe; it marks nginx security guidance as TODO.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Support and services
- Conversence says it can advise on platform use, help start an IdeaLoom conversation, and adapt the platform to a community’s needs.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Translation and moderation
- It supports automatic translation of messages and moderation by designated individuals.checked 11 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 2016checked 28 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Platform requirements
- The installation guide says IdeaLoom has been tested on Ubuntu, Debian, and Mac OS.checked 11 Oct 2026
Alternatives to IdeaLoom
- 1
IdeaGist
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI7.4From $9.99 a month - 2
innosabi Idea
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI7.4Free plan - 3
Orchidea
Free planAndroidiOSWeb7.4From $695 a month - 4
Brightidea
AndroidiOSWebAPI7.3From $99 a month - 5
Ideanote
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI7.3Free plan - 6
Viima
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI7.3From $79 a month