Converse.js vs WeeChat
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 | WeeChat |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Chat & Communication |
| License | MPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | C |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,285 | ★ 3,366 |
| First released | 2013 | 2003 |
| Replaces | Slack | 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 WeeChat if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Active community (3.4k GitHub stars)
- Written in C
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Converse.js or WeeChat better?
Neither is universally better. WeeChat 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 WeeChat free and open-source?
Yes. Converse.js is licensed under MPL-2.0 and WeeChat under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Converse.js and WeeChat with Docker?
Converse.js: yes. WeeChat: check the project docs for container support.