Converse.js vs Fractal
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?
| Feature | Converse.js | Fractal |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | MPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,285 | ★ 900 |
| First released | 2013 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Slack | Slack, Discord |
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)
Choose Fractal if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Rust
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Converse.js or Fractal 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 Fractal free and open-source?
Yes. Converse.js is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Fractal under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Converse.js and Fractal with Docker?
Converse.js: yes. Fractal: check the project docs for container support.