Dendrite Lite vs Syphon
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 | Syphon |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 73 · Good | 14 · At risk |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | Dart |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, binary | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 969 | ★ 1,059 |
| First released | 2017 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord | WhatsApp, Discord |
What are Dendrite Lite and Syphon?
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
Syphon
Syphon is a Matrix messaging client that emphasizes privacy and a calm, distraction-free interface, built with Flutter for desktop and mobile. It supports end-to-end encryption out of the box.
- Privacy-first Matrix client
- End-to-end encryption
- Distraction-free design
- Desktop and mobile
Dendrite Lite vs Syphon: key differences
Dendrite Lite is written in Go, while Syphon is built with Dart. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Dendrite Lite versus AGPL-3.0 for Syphon. Syphon is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Dendrite Lite. Dendrite Lite is the more established project (first released 2017), while Syphon arrived in 2020. Dendrite Lite lists first-class Docker deployment; Syphon 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 Syphon if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (1.1k GitHub stars)
- Written in Dart
Frequently asked questions
Is Dendrite Lite or Syphon better?
Syphon 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 Syphon free and open-source?
Yes. Dendrite Lite is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Syphon under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dendrite Lite and Syphon with Docker?
Dendrite Lite: yes. Syphon: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Dendrite Lite or Syphon?
Syphon 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.