Convos vs Synapse
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Synapse
Reference homeserver for the Matrix network
| Feature | Convos | Synapse |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 79 · Good | 89 · Excellent |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | Artistic-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Perl | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,191 | ★ 4,643 |
| First released | 2012 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Slack, IRCCloud | Slack, Discord, WhatsApp |
What are Convos and Synapse?
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
Synapse
Synapse is the reference homeserver implementation for Matrix, an open protocol for decentralized, federated, secure chat. It targets communities and organizations running their own messaging infrastructure. It is deployed via Docker or native packages.
- Federated Matrix homeserver
- End-to-end encrypted rooms
- Bridges to other networks
- Many compatible clients
Convos vs Synapse: key differences
Convos is written in Perl, while Synapse is built with Python. Licensing differs — Artistic-2.0 for Convos versus AGPL-3.0 for Synapse. Convos is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Synapse. Convos is the more established project (first released 2012), while Synapse arrived in 2014. Synapse has the considerably larger community, at 4,643 GitHub stars versus 1,191.
Why pick each one
Choose Convos if…
- Stays connected for you
- Simple to deploy
Watch out for
- IRC only
- No voice or video
Choose Synapse if…
- Open federated protocol
- Strong encryption
- Bridges to other chats
Watch out for
- Resource and maintenance heavy
- Complex to operate well
Frequently asked questions
Is Convos or Synapse better?
Neither is universally better. Synapse has the larger community, while Convos is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Convos and Synapse free and open-source?
Yes. Convos is licensed under Artistic-2.0 and Synapse under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Convos and Synapse with Docker?
Convos: yes. Synapse: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Convos or Synapse?
Convos has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Synapse. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.