Element Web
Matrix & XMPPGlossy Matrix client for the web and desktop
Replaces Slack, Discord
Best Real-Time Matrix & XMPP for self-hosting
The 33 best Real-Time matrix & xmpp you can self-host, ranked by community traction.
Tinode
Matrix & XMPPOpen-source instant messaging server
Replaces WhatsApp, Slack
ejabberd
Matrix & XMPPRobust, scalable XMPP messaging server
Replaces Slack, WhatsApp
Synapse
Matrix & XMPPReference homeserver for the Matrix network
Replaces Slack, Discord
Cinny
Matrix & XMPPSimple, elegant and secure Matrix client
Replaces Slack, Discord
Converse.js
Matrix & XMPPWeb-based XMPP/Jabber chat client
Replaces Slack
FluffyChat
Matrix & XMPPCute, cross-platform Matrix messenger
Replaces WhatsApp, Telegram
Openfire
Matrix & XMPPReal-time collaboration XMPP server written in Java
Replaces Slack, Microsoft Teams
Nheko
Matrix & XMPPDesktop Matrix client with native Qt interface
Replaces Slack, Discord
Dino
Matrix & XMPPModern XMPP chat client for the desktop
Replaces Skype, Slack
Conduit
Matrix & XMPPSimple, fast and reliable Matrix homeserver in Rust
Replaces Slack, Discord
ZNC
Matrix & XMPPAdvanced and flexible IRC bouncer
Replaces IRCCloud
Movim
Matrix & XMPPSocial and chat platform built on XMPP
Replaces Facebook, Slack
MongooseIM
Matrix & XMPPScalable, robust XMPP messaging platform
Replaces Slack, WhatsApp
gomuks
Matrix & XMPPTerminal-based Matrix client written in Go
Replaces Slack, Discord
Profanity
Matrix & XMPPConsole-based XMPP client inspired by irssi
Replaces Slack
Convos
Matrix & XMPPAlways-online web IRC client you can self-host
Replaces Slack, IRCCloud
Syphon
Matrix & XMPPPrivacy-focused Matrix client built with Flutter
Replaces WhatsApp, Discord
Element Call
Matrix & XMPPEncrypted group video calls on Matrix
Replaces Zoom, Google Meet
Dendrite Lite
Matrix & XMPPSecond-generation Matrix homeserver written in Go
Replaces Slack, Discord
Element X
Matrix & XMPPNext-generation fast Matrix client for mobile
Replaces WhatsApp, Signal
Fractal
Matrix & XMPPGNOME-native Matrix messaging client
Replaces Slack, Discord
JSXC
Matrix & XMPPJavaScript XMPP client for the browser
Replaces Slack
Continuwuity
Matrix & XMPPCommunity-maintained Rust Matrix homeserver
Replaces Slack, Discord
mautrix-signal
Matrix & XMPPBridge connecting Signal messaging to Matrix
Replaces Signal
Gajim
Matrix & XMPPFull-featured XMPP client with plugins
Replaces Skype, Slack
Construct
Matrix & XMPPHigh-performance Matrix homeserver written in C++
Replaces Slack, Discord
Tigase XMPP Server
Matrix & XMPPHighly scalable XMPP/Jabber messaging server
Replaces Slack, WhatsApp
Poezio
Matrix & XMPPConsole XMPP client modeled after IRC clients
Replaces Slack
Metronome IM
Matrix & XMPPLightweight, fork-based XMPP communication server
Replaces Slack, WhatsApp
PeerTube Plugin LiveChat
Matrix & XMPPPlugin adding live chat to PeerTube streams
Replaces Twitch chat
Commet
Matrix & XMPPCross-platform Matrix client built with Flutter
Replaces Discord, Slack
Monocles Chat
Matrix & XMPPPrivacy-focused XMPP messenger for Android
Replaces WhatsApp, Signal
No apps match these filters.
At a glance
| App | Deploy effort | Difficulty | Min. RAM | License | ★ Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Element Web | Under-an-hour setup | Easy | 128 MB | AGPL-3.0 | 13,569 |
| Tinode | Under-an-hour setup | Medium | 256 MB | GPL-3.0 | 13,527 |
| ejabberd | Under-an-hour setup | Hard | 512 MB | GPL-2.0 | 6,743 |
| Synapse | Under-an-hour setup | Hard | 1,024 MB | AGPL-3.0 | 4,699 |
| Cinny | Under-an-hour setup | Easy | 64 MB | AGPL-3.0 | 3,933 |
| Converse.js | Under-an-hour setup | Easy | 64 MB | MPL-2.0 | 3,298 |
| FluffyChat | Read-the-docs project | Easy | 64 MB | AGPL-3.0 | 3,207 |
| Openfire | Under-an-hour setup | Medium | 512 MB | Apache-2.0 | 3,073 |
| Nheko | Read-the-docs project | Easy | 256 MB | GPL-3.0 | 2,507 |
| Dino | Read-the-docs project | Easy | 128 MB | GPL-3.0 | 2,500 |
Quick picks
- Most adopted: Element Web (13,569 GitHub stars).
- Lightest footprint: Profanity (from 32 MB RAM, against 1,024 MB for the heaviest here).
- Licensing: 13 of 33 use AGPL-3.0; check the rest individually if you plan to modify and redistribute.
Every option here is open-source and self-hostable, tagged Real-Time within the matrix & xmpp category. Deploy effort is graded from published container recipes, not vendor claims — see the methodology.