mautrix-whatsapp vs Nheko
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-whatsapp
Matrix-WhatsApp puppeting bridge
VS
Nheko
Desktop Matrix client with native Qt interface
| Feature | mautrix-whatsapp | Nheko |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,855 | ★ 2,472 |
| First released | 2019 | 2017 |
| Replaces | WhatsApp official client | Slack, Discord |
Why pick each one
Choose mautrix-whatsapp if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.9k GitHub stars)
- Written in Go
Choose Nheko if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (2.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in C++
Frequently asked questions
Is mautrix-whatsapp or Nheko better?
Nheko is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider mautrix-whatsapp if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are mautrix-whatsapp and Nheko free and open-source?
Yes. mautrix-whatsapp is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Nheko under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run mautrix-whatsapp and Nheko with Docker?
mautrix-whatsapp: yes. Nheko: check the project docs for container support.