Dendrite Lite vs Gajim
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Dendrite Lite | Gajim |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, binary | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 969 | ★ 600 |
| First released | 2017 | 2005 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord | Skype, Slack |
What are Dendrite Lite and Gajim?
Dendrite Lite
A Matrix homeserver implementation in Go designed to be efficient and easy to run for small to medium communities. It speaks the Matrix federation protocol so users can chat across the wider network.
- Matrix federation
- End-to-end encryption
- Lower resource use
- Single binary deployment
Gajim
Gajim is a cross-platform XMPP instant messaging client written in Python with a GTK interface. It supports OMEMO encryption, group chats, file transfer, and an extensive plugin system.
- OMEMO encryption
- Plugin system
- Group chat support
- Cross-platform
Dendrite Lite vs Gajim: key differences
Dendrite Lite is written in Go, while Gajim is built with Python. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Dendrite Lite versus GPL-3.0 for Gajim. Gajim is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Dendrite Lite. Gajim is the more established project (first released 2005), while Dendrite Lite arrived in 2017. Dendrite Lite lists first-class Docker deployment; Gajim does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Dendrite Lite if…
- Lighter than Synapse
- Open standard protocol
Watch out for
- Some features still maturing
- Smaller deployment base
Choose Gajim if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Dendrite Lite or Gajim better?
Neither is universally better. Dendrite Lite has the larger community, while Gajim is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Dendrite Lite and Gajim free and open-source?
Yes. Dendrite Lite is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Gajim under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dendrite Lite and Gajim with Docker?
Dendrite Lite: yes. Gajim: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Dendrite Lite or Gajim?
Gajim has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Dendrite Lite. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.