Tinode vs Nheko
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Tinode | Nheko |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 94 · Excellent | 77 · Good |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 13,516 | ★ 2,496 |
| First released | 2016 | 2017 |
| Replaces | WhatsApp, Slack | Slack, Discord |
What are Tinode and Nheko?
Tinode
Tinode is an open-source instant messaging server with a backend and clients designed as an alternative to closed messengers. It targets developers building chat into products. It is deployed via Docker or binaries.
- Lightweight messaging server
- Web, mobile and CLI clients
- Group and peer-to-peer chats
- Pluggable storage backends
Nheko
Nheko is a free desktop client for the Matrix protocol built with Qt and C++. It supports end-to-end encryption, voice and video calls, and a clean native interface across Linux, Windows, and macOS.
- Native Qt interface
- End-to-end encryption
- Voice and video calls
- Low resource usage
Tinode vs Nheko: key differences
Tinode is written in Go, while Nheko is built with C++. Tinode has the considerably larger community, at 13,516 GitHub stars versus 2,496. Tinode lists first-class Docker deployment; Nheko does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Tinode if…
- Good developer foundation
- Multiple clients
- Lightweight
Watch out for
- More toolkit than product
- Smaller community
Choose Nheko if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (2.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in C++
Frequently asked questions
Is Tinode or Nheko better?
Neither is universally better. Tinode has the larger community, while Nheko is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Tinode and Nheko free and open-source?
Yes. Tinode is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Nheko under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Tinode and Nheko with Docker?
Tinode: yes. Nheko: check the project docs for container support.