Comm vs Libervia
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted chat & communication options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Comm | Libervia |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Chat & Communication | Chat & Communication |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 331 | ★ 50 |
| First released | 2022 | 2009 |
| Replaces | Discord, Slack | Slack, Facebook |
What are Comm and Libervia?
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
Libervia
Libervia, formerly Salut a Toi, is a communication ecosystem built on XMPP that offers desktop, web, and command-line frontends. It supports chat, blogging, file sharing, and more over a single decentralized network.
- Multiple frontends on XMPP
- Blogging and file sharing
- End-to-end encryption
- Command-line interface
Comm vs Libervia: key differences
Comm is written in JavaScript, while Libervia is built with Python. Licensing differs — BSD-3-Clause for Comm versus AGPL-3.0 for Libervia. Libervia is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Comm. Libervia is the more established project (first released 2009), while Comm arrived in 2022. Comm has the considerably larger community, at 331 GitHub stars versus 50. Comm lists first-class Docker deployment; Libervia does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Comm if…
- Released under the BSD-3-Clause license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in JavaScript
Choose Libervia if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Comm or Libervia better?
Neither is universally better. Comm has the larger community; both share a hard setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Comm and Libervia free and open-source?
Yes. Comm is licensed under BSD-3-Clause and Libervia under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Comm and Libervia with Docker?
Comm: yes. Libervia: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Comm or Libervia?
Libervia has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Comm. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.