Dino vs Profanity
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Dino | Profanity |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 80 · Excellent | 84 · Excellent |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Vala | C |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,492 | ★ 1,542 |
| First released | 2017 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Skype, Slack | Slack |
What are Dino and Profanity?
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
Profanity
Profanity is a console XMPP client whose interface is inspired by irssi. It supports OMEMO and OTR encryption, group chats, and a fully keyboard-driven workflow for the terminal.
- Terminal interface
- OMEMO and OTR encryption
- Keyboard-driven workflow
- Plugin support
Dino vs Profanity: key differences
Dino is written in Vala, while Profanity is built with C. Profanity is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Dino. Profanity is the more established project (first released 2012), while Dino arrived in 2017.
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 Profanity if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Active community (1.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in C
- Tiny footprint — runs in 32 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Dino or Profanity better?
Dino is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Profanity if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Dino and Profanity free and open-source?
Yes. Dino is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Profanity under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dino and Profanity with Docker?
Dino: check the project docs for container support. Profanity: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Dino or Profanity?
Profanity has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Dino. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.