Chatmail Relay vs Monocles Chat
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
Monocles Chat
Privacy-focused XMPP messenger for Android
| Feature | Chatmail Relay | Monocles Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Chat & Communication | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | MPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 476 | ★ 100 |
| First released | 2023 | 2021 |
| Replaces | WhatsApp, Signal | WhatsApp, Signal |
Why pick each one
Choose Monocles Chat if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Java
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Chatmail Relay or Monocles Chat better?
Neither is universally better. Chatmail Relay has the larger community, while Monocles Chat is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Chatmail Relay and Monocles Chat free and open-source?
Yes. Chatmail Relay is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Monocles Chat under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Chatmail Relay and Monocles Chat with Docker?
Chatmail Relay: yes. Monocles Chat: check the project docs for container support.