FluffyChat vs Syphon
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
FluffyChat
Cute, cross-platform Matrix messenger
VS
Syphon
Privacy-focused Matrix client built with Flutter
| Feature | FluffyChat | Syphon |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 87 · Excellent | 14 · At risk |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Dart | Dart |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,143 | ★ 1,059 |
| First released | 2019 | 2020 |
| Replaces | WhatsApp, Telegram | WhatsApp, Discord |
What are FluffyChat and Syphon?
FluffyChat
FluffyChat is a friendly, easy-to-use Matrix client built with Flutter, available on mobile, desktop, and web. It emphasizes simplicity while supporting Matrix end-to-end encryption.
- Built with Flutter for all platforms
- End-to-end encryption
- Friendly, approachable design
- Web build can be self-hosted
Syphon
Syphon is a Matrix messaging client that emphasizes privacy and a calm, distraction-free interface, built with Flutter for desktop and mobile. It supports end-to-end encryption out of the box.
- Privacy-first Matrix client
- End-to-end encryption
- Distraction-free design
- Desktop and mobile
FluffyChat vs Syphon: key differences
Both projects are written in Dart. FluffyChat is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Syphon. FluffyChat has the considerably larger community, at 3,143 GitHub stars versus 1,059.
Why pick each one
Choose FluffyChat if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (3.1k GitHub stars)
- Written in Dart
Watch out for
- Matrix-only
- Fewer power-user features
Choose Syphon if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (1.1k GitHub stars)
- Written in Dart
Frequently asked questions
Is FluffyChat or Syphon better?
Neither is universally better. FluffyChat has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are FluffyChat and Syphon free and open-source?
Yes. FluffyChat is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Syphon under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run FluffyChat and Syphon with Docker?
FluffyChat: check the project docs for container support. Syphon: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, FluffyChat or Syphon?
FluffyChat has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Syphon. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.