JSXC vs Tinode
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | JSXC | Tinode |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 12 · At risk | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 731 | ★ 13,516 |
| First released | 2013 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Slack | WhatsApp, Slack |
What are JSXC and Tinode?
JSXC
JSXC is a real-time XMPP chat application that runs in the browser and can be integrated into web platforms like Nextcloud and SOGo. It supports OTR and OMEMO encryption.
- Browser-based XMPP client
- OTR and OMEMO encryption
- Integrates with Nextcloud
- Audio and video via WebRTC
Tinode
Tinode is an open-source instant messaging server with a backend and clients designed as an alternative to closed messengers. It targets developers building chat into products. It is deployed via Docker or binaries.
- Lightweight messaging server
- Web, mobile and CLI clients
- Group and peer-to-peer chats
- Pluggable storage backends
JSXC vs Tinode: key differences
JSXC is written in TypeScript, while Tinode is built with Go. Licensing differs — MIT for JSXC versus GPL-3.0 for Tinode. JSXC is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Tinode. JSXC is the more established project (first released 2013), while Tinode arrived in 2016. Tinode has the considerably larger community, at 13,516 GitHub stars versus 731. Tinode lists first-class Docker deployment; JSXC does not.
Why pick each one
Choose JSXC if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Written in TypeScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Watch out for
- Needs an XMPP backend
- Integration-focused
Choose Tinode if…
- Good developer foundation
- Multiple clients
- Lightweight
Watch out for
- More toolkit than product
- Smaller community
Frequently asked questions
Is JSXC or Tinode better?
Neither is universally better. Tinode has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are JSXC and Tinode free and open-source?
Yes. JSXC is licensed under MIT and Tinode under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run JSXC and Tinode with Docker?
JSXC: check the project docs for container support. Tinode: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, JSXC or Tinode?
JSXC has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Tinode. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.