Converse.js vs Openfire Pade Plugin
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?
Converse.js
Web-based XMPP/Jabber chat client
VS
Openfire Pade Plugin
Meetings and messaging plugin for Openfire
| Feature | Converse.js | Openfire Pade Plugin |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | MPL-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,285 | ★ 60 |
| First released | 2013 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Slack | Zoom, Slack |
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 Openfire Pade Plugin if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Written in JavaScript
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Converse.js or Openfire Pade Plugin better?
Converse.js is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Openfire Pade Plugin if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Converse.js and Openfire Pade Plugin free and open-source?
Yes. Converse.js is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Openfire Pade Plugin under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Converse.js and Openfire Pade Plugin with Docker?
Converse.js: yes. Openfire Pade Plugin: check the project docs for container support.