Etherpad vs Spectrum 2
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted chat & communication options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Etherpad
Real-time collaborative document editor
VS
Spectrum 2
Transport and gateway framework for messaging networks
| Feature | Etherpad | Spectrum 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Chat & Communication | Chat & Communication |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 18,481 | ★ 418 |
| First released | 2011 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Google Docs | Bitlbee |
Why pick each one
Choose Spectrum 2 if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in C++
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Etherpad or Spectrum 2 better?
Etherpad is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Spectrum 2 if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Etherpad and Spectrum 2 free and open-source?
Yes. Etherpad is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Spectrum 2 under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Etherpad and Spectrum 2 with Docker?
Etherpad: yes. Spectrum 2: yes.