InspIRCd vs Nheko
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
InspIRCd
Modular C++ Internet Relay Chat daemon
VS
Nheko
Desktop Matrix client with native Qt interface
| Feature | InspIRCd | Nheko |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Chat & Communication | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,338 | ★ 2,472 |
| First released | 2002 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord | Slack, Discord |
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++
Choose Nheko if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (2.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in C++
Frequently asked questions
Is InspIRCd or Nheko better?
Nheko is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider InspIRCd if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are InspIRCd and Nheko free and open-source?
Yes. InspIRCd is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Nheko under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run InspIRCd and Nheko with Docker?
InspIRCd: yes. Nheko: check the project docs for container support.