Ergo vs The Lounge
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted chat & communication options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Ergo
Modern IRC server with IRCv3 and bouncer features
VS
The Lounge
Modern, self-hosted web IRC client
| Feature | Ergo | The Lounge |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 91 · Excellent |
| Category | Chat & Communication | Chat & Communication |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Go | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary, source | docker, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,333 | ★ 6,336 |
| First released | 2016 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord | IRCCloud, Slack |
What are Ergo and The Lounge?
Ergo
Ergo, formerly known as Oragono, is a modern IRC server written in Go that combines an IRCd with bouncer-like features. It supports IRCv3, has built-in account management, and stores message history.
- Full IRCv3 support
- Built-in account registration
- Persistent message history
- Single binary deployment
The Lounge
The Lounge is a modern web-based IRC client that you host yourself, staying always connected and synchronizing across devices. It offers a responsive interface accessible from any browser.
- Always-on IRC connection
- Synchronized multi-device experience
- Responsive web and mobile UI
- Push notifications
Ergo vs The Lounge: key differences
Ergo is written in Go, while The Lounge is built with TypeScript. Ergo is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for The Lounge. The Lounge is the more established project (first released 2014), while Ergo arrived in 2016.
Why pick each one
Choose Ergo if…
- No external services needed
- Easy to run
Watch out for
- IRC protocol limitations
- No web UI included
Choose The Lounge if…
- Great IRC experience in the browser
- Multi-user support
Watch out for
- IRC-only
- No built-in voice or video
Frequently asked questions
Is Ergo or The Lounge better?
The Lounge is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Ergo if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Ergo and The Lounge free and open-source?
Yes. Ergo is licensed under MIT and The Lounge under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Ergo and The Lounge with Docker?
Ergo: yes. The Lounge: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Ergo or The Lounge?
Ergo has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for The Lounge. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.