Convos vs ZNC
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Convos | ZNC |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 79 · Good | 82 · Excellent |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | Artistic-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Perl | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,191 | ★ 2,125 |
| First released | 2012 | 2004 |
| Replaces | Slack, IRCCloud | IRCCloud |
What are Convos and ZNC?
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
ZNC
ZNC is a long-established IRC bouncer that detaches the IRC client from the server, keeping connections alive and logging conversations. It is highly extensible through modules.
- Stays connected to IRC
- Extensive module system
- Multi-user support
- Web admin interface
Convos vs ZNC: key differences
Convos is written in Perl, while ZNC is built with C++. Licensing differs — Artistic-2.0 for Convos versus Apache-2.0 for ZNC. ZNC is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Convos. ZNC is the more established project (first released 2004), while Convos arrived in 2012.
Why pick each one
Choose Convos if…
- Stays connected for you
- Simple to deploy
Watch out for
- IRC only
- No voice or video
Choose ZNC if…
- Very stable and mature
- Highly configurable
Watch out for
- Dated configuration model
- IRC-only
Frequently asked questions
Is Convos or ZNC better?
Neither is universally better. ZNC 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 ZNC free and open-source?
Yes. Convos is licensed under Artistic-2.0 and ZNC under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Convos and ZNC with Docker?
Convos: yes. ZNC: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Convos or ZNC?
ZNC 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.