Convos vs Fractal
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Convos | Fractal |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | Artistic-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Perl | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,191 | ★ 900 |
| First released | 2012 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Slack, IRCCloud | Slack, Discord |
What are Convos and Fractal?
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
Fractal
Fractal is a Matrix client designed for the GNOME desktop and written in Rust with GTK. It supports end-to-end encryption, multiple accounts, and integrates cleanly with the GNOME ecosystem.
- GNOME-native GTK interface
- End-to-end encryption
- Multi-account support
- Adaptive layout
Convos vs Fractal: key differences
Convos is written in Perl, while Fractal is built with Rust. Licensing differs — Artistic-2.0 for Convos versus GPL-3.0 for Fractal. Convos is the more established project (first released 2012), while Fractal arrived in 2017. Convos lists first-class Docker deployment; Fractal 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 Fractal if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Rust
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Convos or Fractal better?
Neither is universally better. Convos has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Convos and Fractal free and open-source?
Yes. Convos is licensed under Artistic-2.0 and Fractal under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Convos and Fractal with Docker?
Convos: yes. Fractal: check the project docs for container support.