Chatmail Relay vs SchildiChat
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Chatmail Relay
Minimal email server tuned for Delta Chat messaging
VS
SchildiChat
Element-based Matrix client with extra usability tweaks
| Feature | Chatmail Relay | SchildiChat |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Chat & Communication | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | MPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 476 | ★ 465 |
| First released | 2023 | 2020 |
| Replaces | WhatsApp, Signal | Slack, WhatsApp |
Why pick each one
Choose SchildiChat if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Shell
Frequently asked questions
Is Chatmail Relay or SchildiChat better?
Neither is universally better. Chatmail Relay has the larger community, while SchildiChat is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Chatmail Relay and SchildiChat free and open-source?
Yes. Chatmail Relay is licensed under MPL-2.0 and SchildiChat under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Chatmail Relay and SchildiChat with Docker?
Chatmail Relay: yes. SchildiChat: yes.