mautrix-signal vs SimpleX Chat
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
SimpleX Chat
Private messenger without any user identifiers
| Feature | mautrix-signal | SimpleX Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Chat & Communication |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | Haskell |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 666 | ★ 19,211 |
| First released | 2020 | 2021 |
| 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
Frequently asked questions
Is mautrix-signal or SimpleX Chat better?
SimpleX Chat is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider mautrix-signal if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are mautrix-signal and SimpleX Chat free and open-source?
Yes. mautrix-signal is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and SimpleX Chat under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run mautrix-signal and SimpleX Chat with Docker?
mautrix-signal: yes. SimpleX Chat: yes.