Libervia vs The Lounge
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted chat & communication options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
The Lounge
Modern, self-hosted web IRC client
| Feature | Libervia | The Lounge |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Chat & Communication | Chat & Communication |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Python | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | source | docker, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 50 | ★ 6,336 |
| First released | 2009 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Slack, Facebook | IRCCloud, Slack |
What are Libervia and The Lounge?
Libervia
Libervia, formerly Salut a Toi, is a communication ecosystem built on XMPP that offers desktop, web, and command-line frontends. It supports chat, blogging, file sharing, and more over a single decentralized network.
- Multiple frontends on XMPP
- Blogging and file sharing
- End-to-end encryption
- Command-line interface
The Lounge
The Lounge is a modern web-based IRC client that you host yourself, staying always connected and synchronizing across devices. It offers a responsive interface accessible from any browser.
- Always-on IRC connection
- Synchronized multi-device experience
- Responsive web and mobile UI
- Push notifications
Libervia vs The Lounge: key differences
Libervia is written in Python, while The Lounge is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Libervia versus MIT for The Lounge. Libervia is the more established project (first released 2009), while The Lounge arrived in 2014. The Lounge has the considerably larger community, at 6,336 GitHub stars versus 50. The Lounge lists first-class Docker deployment; Libervia does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Libervia if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Choose The Lounge if…
- Great IRC experience in the browser
- Multi-user support
Watch out for
- IRC-only
- No built-in voice or video
Frequently asked questions
Is Libervia or The Lounge better?
The Lounge is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Libervia if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Libervia and The Lounge free and open-source?
Yes. Libervia is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and The Lounge under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Libervia and The Lounge with Docker?
Libervia: check the project docs for container support. The Lounge: yes.