Dino vs Nheko
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
Nheko
Desktop Matrix client with native Qt interface
| Feature | Dino | Nheko |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Vala | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,472 | ★ 2,472 |
| First released | 2017 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Skype, Slack | Slack, Discord |
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 Nheko if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (2.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in C++
Frequently asked questions
Is Dino or Nheko better?
Neither is universally better. Dino has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Dino and Nheko free and open-source?
Yes. Dino is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Nheko under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dino and Nheko with Docker?
Dino: check the project docs for container support. Nheko: check the project docs for container support.