Converse.js vs Convos
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Converse.js | Convos |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 79 · Good |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | MPL-2.0 | Artistic-2.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Perl |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,294 | ★ 1,191 |
| First released | 2013 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Slack | Slack, IRCCloud |
What are Converse.js and Convos?
Converse.js
Converse.js is a free and open-source XMPP chat client that runs in the browser. It can be embedded into websites or hosted as a standalone full-page chat application.
- Embeddable XMPP web client
- OMEMO encryption support
- Plugin architecture
- Works with any XMPP server
Convos
Convos is a self-hosted, always-online IRC client with a web interface that keeps you connected and logs conversations while you are away. It supports multiple networks and notifications.
- Always-online IRC
- Web interface
- Multi-network support
- Conversation logging
Converse.js vs Convos: key differences
Converse.js is written in JavaScript, while Convos is built with Perl. Licensing differs — MPL-2.0 for Converse.js versus Artistic-2.0 for Convos. Converse.js is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Convos. Converse.js has the considerably larger community, at 3,294 GitHub stars versus 1,191.
Why pick each one
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)
Watch out for
- Requires an XMPP server
- No voice or video
Choose Convos if…
- Stays connected for you
- Simple to deploy
Watch out for
- IRC only
- No voice or video
Frequently asked questions
Is Converse.js or Convos better?
Neither is universally better. Converse.js has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Converse.js and Convos free and open-source?
Yes. Converse.js is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Convos under Artistic-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Converse.js and Convos with Docker?
Converse.js: yes. Convos: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Converse.js or Convos?
Converse.js has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Convos. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.