Dino vs Tinode
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Dino | Tinode |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 80 · Excellent | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Vala | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,492 | ★ 13,516 |
| First released | 2017 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Skype, Slack | WhatsApp, Slack |
What are Dino and Tinode?
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
Tinode
Tinode is an open-source instant messaging server with a backend and clients designed as an alternative to closed messengers. It targets developers building chat into products. It is deployed via Docker or binaries.
- Lightweight messaging server
- Web, mobile and CLI clients
- Group and peer-to-peer chats
- Pluggable storage backends
Dino vs Tinode: key differences
Dino is written in Vala, while Tinode is built with Go. Dino is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Tinode. Tinode has the considerably larger community, at 13,516 GitHub stars versus 2,492. Tinode lists first-class Docker deployment; Dino does not.
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 Tinode if…
- Good developer foundation
- Multiple clients
- Lightweight
Watch out for
- More toolkit than product
- Smaller community
Frequently asked questions
Is Dino or Tinode better?
Neither is universally better. Tinode has the larger community, while Dino is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Dino and Tinode free and open-source?
Yes. Dino is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Tinode under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dino and Tinode with Docker?
Dino: check the project docs for container support. Tinode: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Dino or Tinode?
Dino has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Tinode. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.