Monocles Chat vs Prose
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Monocles Chat | Prose |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | Java | Vue |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 50 MB |
| Deployment | source | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 100 | ★ 59 |
| First released | 2021 | 2025 |
| Replaces | WhatsApp, Signal | Discord, Facebook Messenger, Signal |
What are Monocles Chat and Prose?
Monocles Chat
Monocles Chat is an Android XMPP messaging client forked from Conversations with an extended feature set and theming options. It supports OMEMO encryption, group chats, and audio and video calls.
- Android XMPP client
- OMEMO encryption
- Audio and video calls
- Extensive theming
Prose
Prose Web application. XMPP client for team messaging.
Monocles Chat vs Prose: key differences
Monocles Chat is written in Java, while Prose is built with Vue. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Monocles Chat versus MPL-2.0 for Prose. Prose is the lighter option, starting around 50 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Monocles Chat. Monocles Chat is the more established project (first released 2021), while Prose arrived in 2025.
Why pick each one
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
Choose Prose if…
- Released under the MPL-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Vue
- Tiny footprint — runs in 50 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Monocles Chat or Prose better?
Neither is universally better. Monocles Chat has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Monocles Chat and Prose free and open-source?
Yes. Monocles Chat is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Prose under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Monocles Chat and Prose with Docker?
Monocles Chat: check the project docs for container support. Prose: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Monocles Chat or Prose?
Prose has the smaller minimum footprint at 50 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Monocles Chat. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.