Dendrite Lite vs Synapse
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Synapse
Reference homeserver for the Matrix network
| Feature | Dendrite Lite | Synapse |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 73 · Good | 89 · Excellent |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 969 | ★ 4,643 |
| First released | 2017 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord | Slack, Discord, WhatsApp |
What are Dendrite Lite and Synapse?
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
Synapse
Synapse is the reference homeserver implementation for Matrix, an open protocol for decentralized, federated, secure chat. It targets communities and organizations running their own messaging infrastructure. It is deployed via Docker or native packages.
- Federated Matrix homeserver
- End-to-end encrypted rooms
- Bridges to other networks
- Many compatible clients
Dendrite Lite vs Synapse: key differences
Dendrite Lite is written in Go, while Synapse is built with Python. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Dendrite Lite versus AGPL-3.0 for Synapse. Dendrite Lite is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Synapse. Synapse is the more established project (first released 2014), while Dendrite Lite arrived in 2017. Synapse has the considerably larger community, at 4,643 GitHub stars versus 969.
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 Synapse if…
- Open federated protocol
- Strong encryption
- Bridges to other chats
Watch out for
- Resource and maintenance heavy
- Complex to operate well
Frequently asked questions
Is Dendrite Lite or Synapse better?
Neither is universally better. Synapse has the larger community, while Dendrite Lite is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Dendrite Lite and Synapse free and open-source?
Yes. Dendrite Lite is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Synapse under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dendrite Lite and Synapse with Docker?
Dendrite Lite: yes. Synapse: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Dendrite Lite or Synapse?
Dendrite Lite has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Synapse. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.