Fractal 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 | Fractal | Profanity |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Rust | C |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 900 | ★ 1,542 |
| First released | 2017 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord | Slack |
What are Fractal and Profanity?
Fractal
Fractal is a Matrix client designed for the GNOME desktop and written in Rust with GTK. It supports end-to-end encryption, multiple accounts, and integrates cleanly with the GNOME ecosystem.
- GNOME-native GTK interface
- End-to-end encryption
- Multi-account support
- Adaptive layout
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
Fractal vs Profanity: key differences
Fractal is written in Rust, while Profanity is built with C. Profanity is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Fractal. Profanity is the more established project (first released 2012), while Fractal arrived in 2017.
Why pick each one
Choose Fractal if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Rust
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
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 Fractal or Profanity better?
Neither is universally better. Profanity has the larger community, while Fractal is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Fractal and Profanity free and open-source?
Yes. Fractal is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Profanity under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Fractal and Profanity with Docker?
Fractal: check the project docs for container support. Profanity: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Fractal or Profanity?
Profanity has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Fractal. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.