Dino vs matrix-nio
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Dino
Modern XMPP chat client for the desktop
VS
matrix-nio
Python library for building Matrix clients and bots
| Feature | Dino | matrix-nio |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | GPL-3.0 | ISC |
| Language | Vala | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,472 | ★ 706 |
| First released | 2017 | 2018 |
| Replaces | Skype, Slack | Slack bot SDK |
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 matrix-nio if…
- Released under the ISC license
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Dino or matrix-nio better?
Dino is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider matrix-nio if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Dino and matrix-nio free and open-source?
Yes. Dino is licensed under GPL-3.0 and matrix-nio under ISC. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dino and matrix-nio with Docker?
Dino: check the project docs for container support. matrix-nio: check the project docs for container support.