Gajim vs Tinode
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?
| Feature | Gajim | Tinode |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 600 | ★ 13,452 |
| First released | 2005 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Skype, Slack | WhatsApp, Slack |
Why pick each one
Choose Gajim if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Gajim or Tinode better?
Neither is universally better. Tinode has the larger community, while Gajim is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Gajim and Tinode free and open-source?
Yes. Gajim is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Tinode under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Gajim and Tinode with Docker?
Gajim: check the project docs for container support. Tinode: yes.