Cinny vs Dino
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Cinny | Dino |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 80 · Excellent |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Vala |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,903 | ★ 2,492 |
| First released | 2021 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord | Skype, Slack |
What are Cinny and Dino?
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
Dino
Dino is a free desktop XMPP client built with GTK that focuses on a clean, modern interface. It supports end-to-end encryption with OMEMO, file transfer, and audio and video calls.
- Modern GTK interface
- OMEMO encryption
- Audio and video calls
- Multiple account support
Cinny vs Dino: key differences
Cinny is written in TypeScript, while Dino is built with Vala. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Cinny versus GPL-3.0 for Dino. Cinny is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Dino. Dino is the more established project (first released 2017), while Cinny arrived in 2021. Cinny lists first-class Docker deployment; Dino does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Cinny if…
- Lightweight to host
- Attractive interface
Watch out for
- Fewer features than Element
- Matrix-only
Choose Dino if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (2.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in Vala
Frequently asked questions
Is Cinny or Dino 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 Dino free and open-source?
Yes. Cinny is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Dino under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Cinny and Dino with Docker?
Cinny: yes. Dino: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Cinny or Dino?
Cinny has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Dino. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.