Conversations vs Session
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted chat & communication options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Conversations | Session |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Chat & Communication | Chat & Communication |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Java | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,000 | ★ 585 |
| First released | 2018 | 2020 |
| Replaces | WhatsApp, Signal | Signal, WhatsApp, Telegram |
What are Conversations and Session?
Conversations
Conversations is an open-source XMPP (Jabber) client for Android supporting OMEMO end-to-end encryption, multi-user chats, and file transfer. It works with any standards-compliant XMPP server, including self-hosted ones.
Session
Session is an end-to-end encrypted messenger that routes messages through a decentralized onion network of community-operated nodes. It requires no phone number or email to sign up.
- Onion-routed message delivery
- No phone number required
- Decentralized service node network
- End-to-end encryption
Conversations vs Session: key differences
Conversations is written in Java, while Session is built with TypeScript. Session is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Conversations. Conversations is the more established project (first released 2018), while Session arrived in 2020. Conversations has the considerably larger community, at 3,000 GitHub stars versus 585. Conversations lists first-class Docker deployment; Session does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Conversations if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3k GitHub stars)
- Written in Java
Choose Session if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in TypeScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Watch out for
- Relies on the Session node network
- Message delivery can be slower
Frequently asked questions
Is Conversations or Session better?
Neither is universally better. Conversations has the larger community, while Session is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Conversations and Session free and open-source?
Yes. Conversations is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Session under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Conversations and Session with Docker?
Conversations: yes. Session: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Conversations or Session?
Session has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Conversations. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.