Dino vs JSXC
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Dino | JSXC |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 80 · Excellent | 12 · At risk |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Vala | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,492 | ★ 731 |
| First released | 2017 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Skype, Slack | Slack |
What are Dino and JSXC?
Dino
Dino is a free desktop XMPP client built with GTK that focuses on a clean, modern interface. It supports end-to-end encryption with OMEMO, file transfer, and audio and video calls.
- Modern GTK interface
- OMEMO encryption
- Audio and video calls
- Multiple account support
JSXC
JSXC is a real-time XMPP chat application that runs in the browser and can be integrated into web platforms like Nextcloud and SOGo. It supports OTR and OMEMO encryption.
- Browser-based XMPP client
- OTR and OMEMO encryption
- Integrates with Nextcloud
- Audio and video via WebRTC
Dino vs JSXC: key differences
Dino is written in Vala, while JSXC is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Dino versus MIT for JSXC. JSXC is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Dino. JSXC is the more established project (first released 2013), while Dino arrived in 2017. Dino has the considerably larger community, at 2,492 GitHub stars versus 731.
Why pick each one
Choose Dino if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (2.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in Vala
Choose JSXC if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Written in TypeScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Watch out for
- Needs an XMPP backend
- Integration-focused
Frequently asked questions
Is Dino or JSXC better?
Dino is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider JSXC if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Dino and JSXC free and open-source?
Yes. Dino is licensed under GPL-3.0 and JSXC under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dino and JSXC with Docker?
Dino: check the project docs for container support. JSXC: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Dino or JSXC?
JSXC has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Dino. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.