MongooseIM vs Nheko
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | MongooseIM | Nheko |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 85 · Excellent | 77 · Good |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Erlang | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,760 | ★ 2,496 |
| First released | 2012 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Slack, WhatsApp | Slack, Discord |
What are MongooseIM and Nheko?
MongooseIM
MongooseIM is an enterprise-grade XMPP server written in Erlang, designed for high scalability and reliability. It supports clustering, REST APIs, and modern messaging extensions.
- Built for massive scale
- Clustering and high availability
- GraphQL and REST admin APIs
- Modern XEP support
Nheko
Nheko is a free desktop client for the Matrix protocol built with Qt and C++. It supports end-to-end encryption, voice and video calls, and a clean native interface across Linux, Windows, and macOS.
- Native Qt interface
- End-to-end encryption
- Voice and video calls
- Low resource usage
MongooseIM vs Nheko: key differences
MongooseIM is written in Erlang, while Nheko is built with C++. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for MongooseIM versus GPL-3.0 for Nheko. Nheko is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for MongooseIM. MongooseIM is the more established project (first released 2012), while Nheko arrived in 2017. MongooseIM lists first-class Docker deployment; Nheko does not.
Why pick each one
Choose MongooseIM if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.8k GitHub stars)
- Written in Erlang
Watch out for
- Complex deployment
- Requires Erlang knowledge to extend
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 MongooseIM or Nheko better?
Nheko is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider MongooseIM if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are MongooseIM and Nheko free and open-source?
Yes. MongooseIM is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Nheko under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run MongooseIM and Nheko with Docker?
MongooseIM: yes. Nheko: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, MongooseIM or Nheko?
Nheko has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for MongooseIM. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.