Comm vs ngIRCd
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted chat & communication options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Comm | ngIRCd |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 74 · Good | 76 · Good |
| Category | Chat & Communication | Chat & Communication |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | C |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 331 | ★ 578 |
| First released | 2022 | 2001 |
| Replaces | Discord, Slack | Slack |
What are Comm and ngIRCd?
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
ngIRCd
ngIRCd is a free, portable, and lightweight IRC server for small to mid-sized networks. It focuses on simplicity, low resource use, and a straightforward configuration file.
- Very low resource use
- Simple configuration
- IPv6 and TLS support
- No external dependencies
Comm vs ngIRCd: key differences
Comm is written in JavaScript, while ngIRCd is built with C. Licensing differs — BSD-3-Clause for Comm versus GPL-2.0 for ngIRCd. NgIRCd is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Comm. NgIRCd is the more established project (first released 2001), while Comm arrived in 2022. Comm lists first-class Docker deployment; ngIRCd 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 ngIRCd if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in C
- Tiny footprint — runs in 32 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Comm or ngIRCd better?
ngIRCd is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Comm if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Comm and ngIRCd free and open-source?
Yes. Comm is licensed under BSD-3-Clause and ngIRCd under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Comm and ngIRCd with Docker?
Comm: yes. ngIRCd: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Comm or ngIRCd?
ngIRCd has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Comm. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.