Bonfire vs InspIRCd
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted chat & communication options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
InspIRCd
Modular C++ Internet Relay Chat daemon
| Feature | Bonfire | InspIRCd |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 82 · Excellent | 84 · Excellent |
| Category | Chat & Communication | Chat & Communication |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Elixir | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 943 | ★ 1,347 |
| First released | 2020 | 2002 |
| Replaces | Facebook Groups, Discord | Slack, Discord |
What are Bonfire and InspIRCd?
Bonfire
Bonfire is a flexible, modular framework for building federated social networks and digital communities. It supports ActivityPub federation and is highly customizable through extensions.
- Modular extension architecture
- ActivityPub federation
- Customizable community flavors
- Privacy-focused design
InspIRCd
InspIRCd is a modular, high-performance IRC server written in C++. Its plugin-based architecture lets administrators enable only the features they need for their network.
- Modular plugin architecture
- Lightweight and fast
- Supports large IRC networks
- Cross-platform
Bonfire vs InspIRCd: key differences
Bonfire is written in Elixir, while InspIRCd is built with C++. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Bonfire versus GPL-2.0 for InspIRCd. InspIRCd is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Bonfire. InspIRCd is the more established project (first released 2002), while Bonfire arrived in 2020.
Why pick each one
Choose Bonfire if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Elixir
Watch out for
- Still maturing
- Complex to configure
Choose InspIRCd if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.3k GitHub stars)
- Written in C++
Watch out for
- Configuration is XML-based
- IRC-only
Frequently asked questions
Is Bonfire or InspIRCd better?
InspIRCd is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Bonfire if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Bonfire and InspIRCd free and open-source?
Yes. Bonfire is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and InspIRCd under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Bonfire and InspIRCd with Docker?
Bonfire: yes. InspIRCd: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Bonfire or InspIRCd?
InspIRCd has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Bonfire. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.