Converse.js vs Tinode
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 | Tinode |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | MPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,295 | ★ 13,515 |
| First released | 2013 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Slack | WhatsApp, Slack |
What are Converse.js and Tinode?
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
Tinode
Tinode is an open-source instant messaging server with a backend and clients designed as an alternative to closed messengers. It targets developers building chat into products. It is deployed via Docker or binaries.
- Lightweight messaging server
- Web, mobile and CLI clients
- Group and peer-to-peer chats
- Pluggable storage backends
Converse.js vs Tinode: key differences
Converse.js is written in JavaScript, while Tinode is built with Go. Licensing differs — MPL-2.0 for Converse.js versus GPL-3.0 for Tinode. Converse.js is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Tinode. Converse.js is the more established project (first released 2013), while Tinode arrived in 2016. Tinode has the considerably larger community, at 13,515 GitHub stars versus 3,295.
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 Tinode if…
- Good developer foundation
- Multiple clients
- Lightweight
Watch out for
- More toolkit than product
- Smaller community
Frequently asked questions
Is Converse.js or Tinode better?
Neither is universally better. Tinode 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 Tinode free and open-source?
Yes. Converse.js is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Tinode under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Converse.js and Tinode with Docker?
Converse.js: yes. Tinode: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Converse.js or Tinode?
Converse.js has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Tinode. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.