Metronome IM vs Converse.js
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Metronome IM
Lightweight, fork-based XMPP communication server
VS
Converse.js
Web-based XMPP/Jabber chat client
| Feature | Metronome IM | Converse.js |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | MIT | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | Lua | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 175 | ★ 3,285 |
| First released | 2012 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Slack, WhatsApp | Slack |
Why pick each one
Choose Metronome IM if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Lua
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Choose Converse.js if…
- Released under the MPL-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3.3k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is Metronome IM or Converse.js better?
Converse.js is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Metronome IM if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Metronome IM and Converse.js free and open-source?
Yes. Metronome IM is licensed under MIT and Converse.js under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Metronome IM and Converse.js with Docker?
Metronome IM: yes. Converse.js: yes.