Metronome IM vs Synapse
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Synapse
Reference homeserver for the Matrix network
| Feature | Metronome IM | Synapse |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 42 · Fair | 89 · Excellent |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Lua | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 175 | ★ 4,643 |
| First released | 2012 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Slack, WhatsApp | Slack, Discord, WhatsApp |
What are Metronome IM and Synapse?
Metronome IM
Metronome IM is a fork of Prosody that focuses on additional features and out-of-the-box configuration for XMPP communication. It supports modern messaging extensions and microblogging.
- Prosody-based XMPP server
- Built-in PEP microblogging
- Modern XEP support
- Lightweight Lua implementation
Synapse
Synapse is the reference homeserver implementation for Matrix, an open protocol for decentralized, federated, secure chat. It targets communities and organizations running their own messaging infrastructure. It is deployed via Docker or native packages.
- Federated Matrix homeserver
- End-to-end encrypted rooms
- Bridges to other networks
- Many compatible clients
Metronome IM vs Synapse: key differences
Metronome IM is written in Lua, while Synapse is built with Python. Licensing differs — MIT for Metronome IM versus AGPL-3.0 for Synapse. Metronome IM is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Synapse. Metronome IM is the more established project (first released 2012), while Synapse arrived in 2014. Synapse has the considerably larger community, at 4,643 GitHub stars versus 175.
Why pick each one
Choose Metronome IM if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Lua
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Watch out for
- Smaller community than Prosody
- Niche project
Choose Synapse if…
- Open federated protocol
- Strong encryption
- Bridges to other chats
Watch out for
- Resource and maintenance heavy
- Complex to operate well
Frequently asked questions
Is Metronome IM or Synapse better?
Neither is universally better. Synapse has the larger community, while Metronome IM is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Metronome IM and Synapse free and open-source?
Yes. Metronome IM is licensed under MIT and Synapse under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Metronome IM and Synapse with Docker?
Metronome IM: yes. Synapse: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Metronome IM or Synapse?
Metronome IM has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Synapse. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.