Briar vs Snikket
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Briar
Peer-to-peer encrypted messaging that works offline
VS
Snikket
Easy self-hosted XMPP chat for groups
| Feature | Briar | Snikket |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Chat & Communication | Social Networks |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Java | Lua |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | source | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 800 | ★ 437 |
| First released | 2018 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Signal, WhatsApp | WhatsApp, Signal |
Why pick each one
Choose Briar if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in Java
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Briar or Snikket better?
Neither is universally better. Briar has the larger community, while Snikket is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Briar and Snikket free and open-source?
Yes. Briar is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Snikket under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Briar and Snikket with Docker?
Briar: check the project docs for container support. Snikket: yes.