InspIRCd vs Nextcloud Talk
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted chat & communication options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
InspIRCd
Modular C++ Internet Relay Chat daemon
VS
Nextcloud Talk
Chat, video calls and webinars integrated into Nextcloud
| Feature | InspIRCd | Nextcloud Talk |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 84 · Excellent | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | Chat & Communication | Chat & Communication |
| License | GPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,347 | ★ 2,201 |
| First released | 2002 | 2018 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord | Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams |
What are InspIRCd and Nextcloud Talk?
InspIRCd
InspIRCd is a modular, high-performance IRC server written in C++. Its plugin-based architecture lets administrators enable only the features they need for their network.
- Modular plugin architecture
- Lightweight and fast
- Supports large IRC networks
- Cross-platform
Nextcloud Talk
Nextcloud Talk is the communication app for the Nextcloud platform, providing private chat, audio and video calls, and screen sharing. It runs entirely on your own Nextcloud instance.
- Integrated with Nextcloud files
- WebRTC audio and video calls
- Screen sharing and webinars
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android
InspIRCd vs Nextcloud Talk: key differences
InspIRCd is written in C++, while Nextcloud Talk is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for InspIRCd versus AGPL-3.0 for Nextcloud Talk. InspIRCd is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Nextcloud Talk. InspIRCd is the more established project (first released 2002), while Nextcloud Talk arrived in 2018.
Why pick each one
Choose InspIRCd if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.3k GitHub stars)
- Written in C++
Watch out for
- Configuration is XML-based
- IRC-only
Choose Nextcloud Talk if…
- Tight Nextcloud integration
- End-to-end encrypted calls
Watch out for
- Requires a Nextcloud installation
- High-load calls need a TURN/HPB server
Frequently asked questions
Is InspIRCd or Nextcloud Talk better?
Neither is universally better. Nextcloud Talk has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are InspIRCd and Nextcloud Talk free and open-source?
Yes. InspIRCd is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Nextcloud Talk under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run InspIRCd and Nextcloud Talk with Docker?
InspIRCd: yes. Nextcloud Talk: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, InspIRCd or Nextcloud Talk?
InspIRCd has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Nextcloud Talk. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.