Converse.js vs Let's Chat
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
| Feature | Converse.js | Let's Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Team Chat |
| License | MPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,285 | ★ 9,803 |
| First released | 2013 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Slack | Slack, HipChat |
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 Let's Chat if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 9.8k GitHub stars
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Converse.js or Let's Chat better?
Neither is universally better. Let's Chat has the larger community, while Converse.js is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Converse.js and Let's Chat free and open-source?
Yes. Converse.js is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Let's Chat under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Converse.js and Let's Chat with Docker?
Converse.js: yes. Let's Chat: yes.