Dino vs Spark IM
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Dino
Modern XMPP chat client for the desktop
VS
Spark IM
Cross-platform XMPP instant messaging client
| Feature | Dino | Spark IM |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Team Chat |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Vala | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,472 | ★ 601 |
| First released | 2017 | 2004 |
| Replaces | Skype, Slack | Slack, Skype |
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 Spark IM if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Java
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Dino or Spark IM 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 Spark IM free and open-source?
Yes. Dino is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Spark IM under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dino and Spark IM with Docker?
Dino: check the project docs for container support. Spark IM: check the project docs for container support.