Converse.js vs JSXC
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 | JSXC |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 12 · At risk |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | MPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,295 | ★ 731 |
| First released | 2013 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Slack | Slack |
What are Converse.js and JSXC?
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
JSXC
JSXC is a real-time XMPP chat application that runs in the browser and can be integrated into web platforms like Nextcloud and SOGo. It supports OTR and OMEMO encryption.
- Browser-based XMPP client
- OTR and OMEMO encryption
- Integrates with Nextcloud
- Audio and video via WebRTC
Converse.js vs JSXC: key differences
Converse.js is written in JavaScript, while JSXC is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — MPL-2.0 for Converse.js versus MIT for JSXC. Converse.js has the considerably larger community, at 3,295 GitHub stars versus 731. Converse.js lists first-class Docker deployment; JSXC does not.
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 JSXC if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Written in TypeScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Watch out for
- Needs an XMPP backend
- Integration-focused
Frequently asked questions
Is Converse.js or JSXC better?
Converse.js is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider JSXC if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Converse.js and JSXC free and open-source?
Yes. Converse.js is licensed under MPL-2.0 and JSXC under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Converse.js and JSXC with Docker?
Converse.js: yes. JSXC: check the project docs for container support.