Isso vs qTox
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted chat & communication options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Isso
Lightweight self-hosted commenting server
VS
qTox
Peer-to-peer encrypted messaging and calls over Tox
| Feature | Isso | qTox |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Chat & Communication | Chat & Communication |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,296 | ★ 4,977 |
| First released | 2012 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Disqus | Skype, WhatsApp |
Why pick each one
Choose qTox if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Active community (5k GitHub stars)
- Written in C++
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Isso or qTox better?
Isso is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider qTox if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Isso and qTox free and open-source?
Yes. Isso is licensed under MIT and qTox under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Isso and qTox with Docker?
Isso: yes. qTox: check the project docs for container support.