Construct vs Syphon
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Construct | Syphon |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 11 · At risk | 14 · At risk |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | Dart |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 394 | ★ 1,059 |
| First released | 2018 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord | WhatsApp, Discord |
What are Construct and Syphon?
Construct
Construct is a Matrix homeserver implementation written in C++ focused on raw performance and efficiency. It is one of the original alternative homeserver projects in the Matrix ecosystem.
- Written in modern C++
- Designed for low overhead
- Matrix federation support
- Embedded database
Syphon
Syphon is a Matrix messaging client that emphasizes privacy and a calm, distraction-free interface, built with Flutter for desktop and mobile. It supports end-to-end encryption out of the box.
- Privacy-first Matrix client
- End-to-end encryption
- Distraction-free design
- Desktop and mobile
Construct vs Syphon: key differences
Construct is written in C++, while Syphon is built with Dart. Licensing differs — BSD-3-Clause for Construct versus AGPL-3.0 for Syphon. Construct is the more established project (first released 2018), while Syphon arrived in 2020. Syphon has the considerably larger community, at 1,059 GitHub stars versus 394.
Why pick each one
Choose Construct if…
- Released under the BSD-3-Clause license
- Written in C++
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Watch out for
- Complex to build
- Limited documentation
Choose Syphon if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (1.1k GitHub stars)
- Written in Dart
Frequently asked questions
Is Construct or Syphon better?
Syphon is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Construct if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Construct and Syphon free and open-source?
Yes. Construct is licensed under BSD-3-Clause and Syphon under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Construct and Syphon with Docker?
Construct: check the project docs for container support. Syphon: check the project docs for container support.