JSXC vs Openfire
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | JSXC | Openfire |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 12 · At risk | 87 · Excellent |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 731 | ★ 3,064 |
| First released | 2013 | 2004 |
| Replaces | Slack | Slack, Microsoft Teams |
What are JSXC and Openfire?
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
Openfire
Openfire is a mature, cross-platform real-time collaboration server that uses the XMPP protocol. It offers a clean web administration console and an extensive plugin ecosystem for chat, presence, and group communication.
- Web-based admin console
- Rich plugin ecosystem
- LDAP and Active Directory integration
- Group chat and presence
JSXC vs Openfire: key differences
JSXC is written in TypeScript, while Openfire is built with Java. Licensing differs — MIT for JSXC versus Apache-2.0 for Openfire. JSXC is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Openfire. Openfire is the more established project (first released 2004), while JSXC arrived in 2013. Openfire has the considerably larger community, at 3,064 GitHub stars versus 731. Openfire 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 Openfire if…
- Easy to administer
- Long track record
Watch out for
- Java memory footprint
- Dated user interface
Frequently asked questions
Is JSXC or Openfire better?
Neither is universally better. Openfire has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are JSXC and Openfire free and open-source?
Yes. JSXC is licensed under MIT and Openfire under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run JSXC and Openfire with Docker?
JSXC: check the project docs for container support. Openfire: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, JSXC or Openfire?
JSXC has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Openfire. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.