matrix-corporal vs Dendrite

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
Featurematrix-corporalDendrite
CategoryMatrix & XMPPMatrix & XMPP
LicenseAGPL-3.0Apache-2.0
LanguageGoGo
Setup difficultyHardMedium
Min. RAM128 MB512 MB
Deploymentdocker, binary, sourcedocker, binary, source
GitHub stars★ 163★ 5,632
First released20182017
ReplacesSlack admin toolsSlack, Discord

Why pick each one

Choose matrix-corporal if…

  • Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • Written in Go
  • Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
matrix-corporal details

Choose Dendrite if…

  • Much lighter than Synapse
  • Active development by Matrix.org
Dendrite details

Frequently asked questions

Is matrix-corporal or Dendrite better?

Dendrite is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider matrix-corporal if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are matrix-corporal and Dendrite free and open-source?

Yes. matrix-corporal is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Dendrite under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run matrix-corporal and Dendrite with Docker?

matrix-corporal: yes. Dendrite: yes.

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