Metronome IM vs Syphon
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Metronome IM | Syphon |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 42 · Fair | 14 · At risk |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Lua | Dart |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 175 | ★ 1,059 |
| First released | 2012 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Slack, WhatsApp | WhatsApp, Discord |
What are Metronome IM and Syphon?
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
Syphon
Syphon is a Matrix messaging client that emphasizes privacy and a calm, distraction-free interface, built with Flutter for desktop and mobile. It supports end-to-end encryption out of the box.
- Privacy-first Matrix client
- End-to-end encryption
- Distraction-free design
- Desktop and mobile
Metronome IM vs Syphon: key differences
Metronome IM is written in Lua, while Syphon is built with Dart. Licensing differs — MIT for Metronome IM versus AGPL-3.0 for Syphon. Metronome IM is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Syphon. Metronome IM is the more established project (first released 2012), while Syphon arrived in 2020. Syphon has the considerably larger community, at 1,059 GitHub stars versus 175. Metronome IM lists first-class Docker deployment; Syphon does not.
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 Syphon if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (1.1k GitHub stars)
- Written in Dart
Frequently asked questions
Is Metronome IM or Syphon better?
Syphon is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Metronome IM if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Metronome IM and Syphon free and open-source?
Yes. Metronome IM is licensed under MIT and Syphon under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Metronome IM and Syphon with Docker?
Metronome IM: yes. Syphon: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Metronome IM or Syphon?
Metronome IM has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Syphon. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.