FluffyChat vs mautrix-whatsapp
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?
FluffyChat
Cute, cross-platform Matrix messenger
VS
mautrix-whatsapp
Matrix-WhatsApp puppeting bridge
| Feature | FluffyChat | mautrix-whatsapp |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Dart | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,039 | ★ 1,855 |
| First released | 2019 | 2019 |
| Replaces | WhatsApp, Telegram | WhatsApp official client |
Why pick each one
Choose FluffyChat if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (3k GitHub stars)
- Written in Dart
Choose mautrix-whatsapp if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.9k GitHub stars)
- Written in Go
Frequently asked questions
Is FluffyChat or mautrix-whatsapp better?
FluffyChat is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider mautrix-whatsapp if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are FluffyChat and mautrix-whatsapp free and open-source?
Yes. FluffyChat is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and mautrix-whatsapp under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run FluffyChat and mautrix-whatsapp with Docker?
FluffyChat: check the project docs for container support. mautrix-whatsapp: yes.