mautrix-signal vs Monocles Chat
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?
mautrix-signal
Bridge connecting Signal messaging to Matrix
VS
Monocles Chat
Privacy-focused XMPP messenger for Android
| Feature | mautrix-signal | Monocles Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 666 | ★ 100 |
| First released | 2020 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Signal | WhatsApp, Signal |
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 Monocles Chat if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Java
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is mautrix-signal or Monocles Chat better?
Neither is universally better. mautrix-signal has the larger community, while Monocles Chat is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are mautrix-signal and Monocles Chat free and open-source?
Yes. mautrix-signal is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Monocles Chat under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run mautrix-signal and Monocles Chat with Docker?
mautrix-signal: yes. Monocles Chat: check the project docs for container support.