Dendrite Lite vs Nheko
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 | Nheko |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 73 · Good | 77 · Good |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, binary | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 969 | ★ 2,496 |
| First released | 2017 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord | Slack, Discord |
What are Dendrite Lite and Nheko?
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
Nheko
Nheko is a free desktop client for the Matrix protocol built with Qt and C++. It supports end-to-end encryption, voice and video calls, and a clean native interface across Linux, Windows, and macOS.
- Native Qt interface
- End-to-end encryption
- Voice and video calls
- Low resource usage
Dendrite Lite vs Nheko: key differences
Dendrite Lite is written in Go, while Nheko is built with C++. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Dendrite Lite versus GPL-3.0 for Nheko. Nheko is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Dendrite Lite. Nheko has the considerably larger community, at 2,496 GitHub stars versus 969. Dendrite Lite lists first-class Docker deployment; Nheko 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 Nheko if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (2.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in C++
Frequently asked questions
Is Dendrite Lite or Nheko better?
Nheko is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Dendrite Lite if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Dendrite Lite and Nheko free and open-source?
Yes. Dendrite Lite is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Nheko under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dendrite Lite and Nheko with Docker?
Dendrite Lite: yes. Nheko: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Dendrite Lite or Nheko?
Nheko has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Dendrite Lite. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.