mautrix-signal vs Session
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?
mautrix-signal
Bridge connecting Signal messaging to Matrix
VS
Session
Onion-routed private messenger with no phone number
| Feature | mautrix-signal | Session |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Chat & Communication |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | bare-metal, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 666 | ★ 546 |
| First released | 2020 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Signal | Signal, WhatsApp, Telegram |
Why pick each one
Choose mautrix-signal if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Go
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Choose Session if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in TypeScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is mautrix-signal or Session better?
Neither is universally better. mautrix-signal has the larger community, while Session is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are mautrix-signal and Session free and open-source?
Yes. mautrix-signal is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Session under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run mautrix-signal and Session with Docker?
mautrix-signal: yes. Session: check the project docs for container support.