Convos vs JSXC
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Convos | JSXC |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 79 · Good | 12 · At risk |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | Artistic-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | Perl | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,191 | ★ 731 |
| First released | 2012 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Slack, IRCCloud | Slack |
What are Convos and JSXC?
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
JSXC
JSXC is a real-time XMPP chat application that runs in the browser and can be integrated into web platforms like Nextcloud and SOGo. It supports OTR and OMEMO encryption.
- Browser-based XMPP client
- OTR and OMEMO encryption
- Integrates with Nextcloud
- Audio and video via WebRTC
Convos vs JSXC: key differences
Convos is written in Perl, while JSXC is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — Artistic-2.0 for Convos versus MIT for JSXC. JSXC is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Convos. Convos lists first-class Docker deployment; JSXC 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 JSXC if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Written in TypeScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Watch out for
- Needs an XMPP backend
- Integration-focused
Frequently asked questions
Is Convos or JSXC better?
Convos is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider JSXC if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Convos and JSXC free and open-source?
Yes. Convos is licensed under Artistic-2.0 and JSXC under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Convos and JSXC with Docker?
Convos: yes. JSXC: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Convos or JSXC?
JSXC has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Convos. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.