SHSelfHostIndex

Cinny vs Converse.js

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
CI Cinny Simple, elegant and secure Matrix client VS CO Converse.js Web-based XMPP/Jabber chat client
FeatureCinnyConverse.js
Deploy effortUnder-an-hour setupUnder-an-hour setup
Health score88 · Excellent88 · Excellent
CategoryMatrix & XMPPMatrix & XMPP
LicenseAGPL-3.0MPL-2.0
LanguageTypeScriptJavaScript
Setup difficultyEasyEasy
Min. RAM64 MB64 MB
Deploymentdocker, bare-metal, sourcedocker, bare-metal, source
GitHub stars★ 3,903★ 3,294
First released20212013
ReplacesSlack, DiscordSlack

What are Cinny and Converse.js?

Cinny

Cinny is a Matrix client focused on a clean, simple and modern user interface. It can be self-hosted as a static web app to connect to any Matrix homeserver.

  • Clean and minimal UI
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Static web app deployment
  • Desktop builds available

Read the full Cinny guide →

Converse.js

Converse.js is a free and open-source XMPP chat client that runs in the browser. It can be embedded into websites or hosted as a standalone full-page chat application.

  • Embeddable XMPP web client
  • OMEMO encryption support
  • Plugin architecture
  • Works with any XMPP server

Cinny vs Converse.js: key differences

Cinny is written in TypeScript, while Converse.js is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Cinny versus MPL-2.0 for Converse.js. Converse.js is the more established project (first released 2013), while Cinny arrived in 2021.

Why pick each one

Choose Cinny if…

  • Lightweight to host
  • Attractive interface

Watch out for

  • Fewer features than Element
  • Matrix-only
Cinny details

Choose Converse.js if…

  • Released under the MPL-2.0 license
  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • Active community (3.3k GitHub stars)

Watch out for

  • Requires an XMPP server
  • No voice or video
Converse.js details

Frequently asked questions

Is Cinny or Converse.js better?

Neither is universally better. Cinny has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.

Are Cinny and Converse.js free and open-source?

Yes. Cinny is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Converse.js under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Cinny and Converse.js with Docker?

Cinny: yes. Converse.js: yes.

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