Convos vs Dino
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Convos | Dino |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 79 · Good | 80 · Excellent |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | Artistic-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Perl | Vala |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,191 | ★ 2,492 |
| First released | 2012 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Slack, IRCCloud | Skype, Slack |
What are Convos and Dino?
Convos
Convos is a self-hosted, always-online IRC client with a web interface that keeps you connected and logs conversations while you are away. It supports multiple networks and notifications.
- Always-online IRC
- Web interface
- Multi-network support
- Conversation logging
Dino
Dino is a free desktop XMPP client built with GTK that focuses on a clean, modern interface. It supports end-to-end encryption with OMEMO, file transfer, and audio and video calls.
- Modern GTK interface
- OMEMO encryption
- Audio and video calls
- Multiple account support
Convos vs Dino: key differences
Convos is written in Perl, while Dino is built with Vala. Licensing differs — Artistic-2.0 for Convos versus GPL-3.0 for Dino. Dino is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Convos. Convos is the more established project (first released 2012), while Dino arrived in 2017. Dino has the considerably larger community, at 2,492 GitHub stars versus 1,191. Convos lists first-class Docker deployment; Dino does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Convos if…
- Stays connected for you
- Simple to deploy
Watch out for
- IRC only
- No voice or video
Choose Dino if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (2.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in Vala
Frequently asked questions
Is Convos or Dino better?
Neither is universally better. Dino has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Convos and Dino free and open-source?
Yes. Convos is licensed under Artistic-2.0 and Dino under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Convos and Dino with Docker?
Convos: yes. Dino: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Convos or Dino?
Dino has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Convos. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.