Tinode vs qTox
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?
Tinode
Open-source instant messaging server
VS
qTox
Peer-to-peer encrypted messaging and calls over Tox
| Feature | Tinode | qTox |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Chat & Communication |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 13,452 | ★ 4,977 |
| First released | 2016 | 2014 |
| Replaces | WhatsApp, Slack | Skype, WhatsApp |
Why pick each one
Choose qTox if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Active community (5k GitHub stars)
- Written in C++
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Tinode or qTox better?
Neither is universally better. Tinode has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Tinode and qTox free and open-source?
Yes. Tinode is licensed under GPL-3.0 and qTox under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Tinode and qTox with Docker?
Tinode: yes. qTox: check the project docs for container support.