Cinny vs Nheko
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Cinny | Nheko |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 77 · Good |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,903 | ★ 2,496 |
| First released | 2021 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord | Slack, Discord |
What are Cinny and Nheko?
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
Nheko
Nheko is a free desktop client for the Matrix protocol built with Qt and C++. It supports end-to-end encryption, voice and video calls, and a clean native interface across Linux, Windows, and macOS.
- Native Qt interface
- End-to-end encryption
- Voice and video calls
- Low resource usage
Cinny vs Nheko: key differences
Cinny is written in TypeScript, while Nheko is built with C++. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Cinny versus GPL-3.0 for Nheko. Cinny is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Nheko. Nheko is the more established project (first released 2017), while Cinny arrived in 2021. Cinny lists first-class Docker deployment; Nheko does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Cinny if…
- Lightweight to host
- Attractive interface
Watch out for
- Fewer features than Element
- Matrix-only
Choose Nheko if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (2.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in C++
Frequently asked questions
Is Cinny or Nheko 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 Nheko free and open-source?
Yes. Cinny is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Nheko under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Cinny and Nheko with Docker?
Cinny: yes. Nheko: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Cinny or Nheko?
Cinny has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Nheko. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.