Let's Chat vs Spark IM
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted team chat options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Let's Chat
Self-hosted chat app for small teams
VS
Spark IM
Cross-platform XMPP instant messaging client
| Feature | Let's Chat | Spark IM |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Team Chat | Team Chat |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 9,803 | ★ 601 |
| First released | 2014 | 2004 |
| Replaces | Slack, HipChat | Slack, Skype |
Why pick each one
Choose Let's Chat if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 9.8k GitHub stars
- Written in JavaScript
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
Frequently asked questions
Is Let's Chat or Spark IM better?
Neither is universally better. Let's Chat has the larger community, while Spark IM is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Let's Chat and Spark IM free and open-source?
Yes. Let's Chat is licensed under MIT and Spark IM under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Let's Chat and Spark IM with Docker?
Let's Chat: yes. Spark IM: check the project docs for container support.