SHSelfHostIndex

Jami vs Spark IM

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?
JA Jami Fully distributed, peer-to-peer encrypted communication VS SP Spark IM Cross-platform XMPP instant messaging client
FeatureJamiSpark IM
CategoryChat & CommunicationTeam Chat
LicenseGPL-3.0Apache-2.0
LanguageC++Java
Setup difficultyMediumEasy
Min. RAM256 MB256 MB
Deploymentbare-metal, binarybinary, source
GitHub stars★ 41★ 601
First released20162004
ReplacesSkype, Zoom, WhatsAppSlack, Skype

Why pick each one

Choose Jami if…

  • No infrastructure required
  • Strong privacy model
Jami details

Choose Spark IM if…

  • Released under the Apache-2.0 license
  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • Written in Java
  • Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Spark IM details

Frequently asked questions

Is Jami or Spark IM better?

Spark IM is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Jami if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are Jami and Spark IM free and open-source?

Yes. Jami is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Spark IM under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Jami and Spark IM with Docker?

Jami: check the project docs for container support. Spark IM: check the project docs for container support.

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