Charybdis IRCd vs Comm
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted chat & communication options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Charybdis IRCd | Comm |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 7 · At risk | 74 · Good |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | Chat & Communication | Chat & Communication |
| License | GPL-2.0 | BSD-3-Clause |
| Language | C | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 230 | ★ 331 |
| First released | 2008 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Discord, Slack | Discord, Slack |
What are Charybdis IRCd and Comm?
Charybdis IRCd
Charybdis is an IRCv3-capable IRC server daemon descended from ratbox, designed to power large IRC networks. It has been used as the basis for several other IRC server projects and is fully self-hostable.
- IRCv3-capable IRC server
- Designed for large networks
- Basis for other IRC daemons
Comm
Comm is an open-source messaging app focused on a personal server model where users can host their own Comm node. It provides end-to-end encryption and is designed for communities and small groups.
- Personal server model
- End-to-end encryption
- Native mobile apps
- Community-oriented
Charybdis IRCd vs Comm: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Charybdis IRCd's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Comm is actively maintained. Charybdis IRCd is written in C, while Comm is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Charybdis IRCd versus BSD-3-Clause for Comm. Charybdis IRCd is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Comm. Charybdis IRCd is the more established project (first released 2008), while Comm arrived in 2022. Comm lists first-class Docker deployment; Charybdis IRCd does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Charybdis IRCd if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Written in C
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Choose Comm if…
- Released under the BSD-3-Clause license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Charybdis IRCd or Comm better?
Neither is universally better. Comm has the larger community, while Charybdis IRCd is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Charybdis IRCd and Comm free and open-source?
Yes. Charybdis IRCd is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Comm under BSD-3-Clause. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Charybdis IRCd and Comm with Docker?
Charybdis IRCd: check the project docs for container support. Comm: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Charybdis IRCd or Comm?
Charybdis IRCd has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Comm. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.