Comparison · 2D virtual office
NestWork: an open-source Gather alternative for small teams.
NestWork focuses on the essential idea behind a 2D virtual office: see who is present and walk up to a teammate to start talking. It adds open source code, self-hosting and a deliberately smaller scope for teams of 4 to 12.
NestWork vs Gather: the differences that matter
This comparison uses public information available on September 17, 2026. It presents trade-offs rather than declaring one universal winner.
| Criterion | NestWork | Gather |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning | A 2D virtual office for small remote or hybrid teams, with a guided pilot designed for 4 to 12 people. | A hosted virtual office for remote teams, backed by established product documentation and onboarding. |
| Code and hosting | Public AGPL-3.0 code. Teams can deploy their own instance and choose their infrastructure. | An online service operated and hosted by Gather. |
| Spontaneous conversations | Proximity audio and video, microphone and camera controls, screen sharing and chat. | Proximity conversations, meetings and collaboration inside a virtual space. |
| Customization | Free NestWork asset library, private imports and an optional separately purchased LimeZu pack. | Spaces, templates and customization tools included in the Gather service. |
| Setup | Requires deployment or a guided pilot; production setups should include PostgreSQL and TURN. | A hosted experience designed to start without running the infrastructure yourself. |
| Maturity | A recent, transparent open-source project currently in its pilot phase. | A longer-established product with a broader ecosystem and resource library. |
Choose NestWork when control matters more than catalog size
Open source
You want inspectable code
The public repository lets your team audit, change and deploy NestWork under the terms of AGPL-3.0.
Infrastructure
You want to choose where data lives
Your deployment connects a web app, API, PostgreSQL database and TURN relay selected by your team.
Team
You are a small team online at the same time
The pilot targets teams of 4 to 12 people who regularly share working hours.
Visuals
You want to start with free assets
The original NestWork library is included. LimeZu’s Modern Interiors remains an optional private pack.
Choose Gather when turnkey maturity comes first
Gather is the stronger fit when a team wants an immediately available hosted service, extensive documentation and a product already used across many organizations.
Self-hosting NestWork takes more technical involvement. That responsibility is also what gives a team control over the infrastructure and code, so it should be evaluated as a trade-off rather than hidden complexity.
What NestWork already supports
- See who is online, available or in Do Not Disturb mode.
- Move an avatar and open a conversation through proximity.
- Control microphone, camera and screen sharing separately.
- Continue in channels and direct messages after the conversation.
- Build a map with free assets, private imports or the optional LimeZu pack.
Frequently asked questions
What to know before you choose.
Is NestWork a copy of Gather?
No. Both products belong to the 2D virtual office category and use proximity to support conversation. NestWork differs through open code, self-hosting and a deliberately smaller focus on small teams.
Is NestWork free?
The code is available under AGPL-3.0 and the NestWork visual library is provided under its own free license. Running a public instance may still create database, server, domain or TURN costs.
Can I automatically migrate a Gather space?
No. NestWork does not currently import Gather maps or account data. The office needs to be rebuilt and members invited to the new instance.
Which option is easier for a non-technical team?
Gather removes more infrastructure work. NestWork can still fit through a guided pilot or when someone on the team is comfortable operating a modern web deployment.
Sources and method
Gather capabilities are taken from its official pages. NestWork capabilities and limitations come from the product, public repository and documentation.
Compare it during a real working week.
The NestWork pilot helps a small team test presence, proximity and office customization in its actual working conditions.
Apply for the pilot