Fractal vs Prose
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Fractal | Prose |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | Rust | Vue |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 50 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 900 | ★ 59 |
| First released | 2017 | 2025 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord | Discord, Facebook Messenger, Signal |
What are Fractal and Prose?
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
Prose
Prose Web application. XMPP client for team messaging.
Fractal vs Prose: key differences
Fractal is written in Rust, while Prose is built with Vue. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Fractal versus MPL-2.0 for Prose. Prose is the lighter option, starting around 50 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Fractal. Fractal is the more established project (first released 2017), while Prose arrived in 2025. Fractal has the considerably larger community, at 900 GitHub stars versus 59.
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 Prose if…
- Released under the MPL-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Vue
- Tiny footprint — runs in 50 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Fractal or Prose better?
Neither is universally better. Fractal has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Fractal and Prose free and open-source?
Yes. Fractal is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Prose under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Fractal and Prose with Docker?
Fractal: check the project docs for container support. Prose: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Fractal or Prose?
Prose has the smaller minimum footprint at 50 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Fractal. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.