Converse.js vs Dendrite Lite
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 | Dendrite Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 73 · Good |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | MPL-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,294 | ★ 969 |
| First released | 2013 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Slack | Slack, Discord |
What are Converse.js and Dendrite Lite?
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
Dendrite Lite
A Matrix homeserver implementation in Go designed to be efficient and easy to run for small to medium communities. It speaks the Matrix federation protocol so users can chat across the wider network.
- Matrix federation
- End-to-end encryption
- Lower resource use
- Single binary deployment
Converse.js vs Dendrite Lite: key differences
Converse.js is written in JavaScript, while Dendrite Lite is built with Go. Licensing differs — MPL-2.0 for Converse.js versus Apache-2.0 for Dendrite Lite. Converse.js is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Dendrite Lite. Converse.js is the more established project (first released 2013), while Dendrite Lite arrived in 2017. Converse.js has the considerably larger community, at 3,294 GitHub stars versus 969.
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 Dendrite Lite if…
- Lighter than Synapse
- Open standard protocol
Watch out for
- Some features still maturing
- Smaller deployment base
Frequently asked questions
Is Converse.js or Dendrite Lite better?
Converse.js is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Dendrite Lite if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Converse.js and Dendrite Lite free and open-source?
Yes. Converse.js is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Dendrite Lite under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Converse.js and Dendrite Lite with Docker?
Converse.js: yes. Dendrite Lite: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Converse.js or Dendrite Lite?
Converse.js has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Dendrite Lite. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.