JSXC vs SchildiChat
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | JSXC | SchildiChat |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 12 · At risk | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 731 | ★ 464 |
| First released | 2013 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Slack | Slack, WhatsApp |
What are JSXC and SchildiChat?
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
SchildiChat
SchildiChat is a fork of Element that adds a unified message bubble layout and other usability improvements. The web version can be self-hosted to connect to any Matrix homeserver.
- Message bubble layout
- Element compatibility
- End-to-end encryption
- Unified chat list
JSXC vs SchildiChat: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: SchildiChat's repository is archived and no longer developed, while JSXC is actively maintained. JSXC is written in TypeScript, while SchildiChat is built with Shell. Licensing differs — MIT for JSXC versus AGPL-3.0 for SchildiChat. JSXC is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for SchildiChat. JSXC is the more established project (first released 2013), while SchildiChat arrived in 2020. SchildiChat 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 SchildiChat if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Shell
Watch out for
- Tracks Element upstream
- Matrix-only
Frequently asked questions
Is JSXC or SchildiChat better?
Neither is universally better. JSXC has the larger community, while SchildiChat is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are JSXC and SchildiChat free and open-source?
Yes. JSXC is licensed under MIT and SchildiChat under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run JSXC and SchildiChat with Docker?
JSXC: check the project docs for container support. SchildiChat: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, JSXC or SchildiChat?
JSXC has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for SchildiChat. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.