Briar vs Tigase XMPP Server
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
Tigase XMPP Server
Highly scalable XMPP/Jabber messaging server
| Feature | Briar | Tigase XMPP Server |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Chat & Communication | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Java | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | source | docker, bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 800 | ★ 358 |
| First released | 2018 | 2004 |
| Replaces | Signal, WhatsApp | Slack, WhatsApp |
Why pick each one
Choose Briar if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in Java
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Choose Tigase XMPP Server if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Java
Frequently asked questions
Is Briar or Tigase XMPP Server better?
Briar is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Tigase XMPP Server if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Briar and Tigase XMPP Server free and open-source?
Yes. Briar is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Tigase XMPP Server under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Briar and Tigase XMPP Server with Docker?
Briar: check the project docs for container support. Tigase XMPP Server: yes.