Gajim vs Dendrite
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Gajim | Dendrite |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Python | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 600 | ★ 5,625 |
| First released | 2005 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Skype, Slack | Slack, Discord |
What are Gajim and Dendrite?
Gajim
Gajim is a cross-platform XMPP instant messaging client written in Python with a GTK interface. It supports OMEMO encryption, group chats, file transfer, and an extensive plugin system.
- OMEMO encryption
- Plugin system
- Group chat support
- Cross-platform
Dendrite
Dendrite is a lightweight, efficient Matrix homeserver written in Go by the Matrix.org team. It is designed to be a more resource-efficient alternative to Synapse while remaining fully compatible with the Matrix protocol.
- Lower memory footprint than Synapse
- Federated Matrix protocol
- End-to-end encryption support
- Polylith and monolith deployment modes
Gajim vs Dendrite: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Dendrite's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Gajim is actively maintained. Gajim is written in Python, while Dendrite is built with Go. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Gajim versus Apache-2.0 for Dendrite. Gajim is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Dendrite. Gajim is the more established project (first released 2005), while Dendrite arrived in 2017. Dendrite has the considerably larger community, at 5,625 GitHub stars versus 600. Dendrite lists first-class Docker deployment; Gajim does not.
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
Choose Dendrite if…
- Much lighter than Synapse
- Active development by Matrix.org
Watch out for
- Some Synapse features still missing
- Less battle-tested at large scale
Frequently asked questions
Is Gajim or Dendrite better?
Neither is universally better. Dendrite 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 Dendrite free and open-source?
Yes. Gajim is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Dendrite under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Gajim and Dendrite with Docker?
Gajim: check the project docs for container support. Dendrite: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Gajim or Dendrite?
Gajim has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Dendrite. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.