Delta Chat vs Tinode
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?
Delta Chat
Decentralized messenger built on top of email
VS
Tinode
Open-source instant messaging server
| Feature | Delta Chat | Tinode |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Chat & Communication | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | MPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Rust | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 916 | ★ 13,452 |
| First released | 2017 | 2016 |
| Replaces | WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram | WhatsApp, Slack |
Why pick each one
Frequently asked questions
Is Delta Chat or Tinode better?
Neither is universally better. Tinode has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Delta Chat and Tinode free and open-source?
Yes. Delta Chat is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Tinode under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Delta Chat and Tinode with Docker?
Delta Chat: check the project docs for container support. Tinode: yes.