Monocles Chat 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 | Monocles Chat | Syphon |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Java | Dart |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 100 | ★ 1,059 |
| First released | 2021 | 2020 |
| Replaces | WhatsApp, Signal | WhatsApp, Discord |
What are Monocles Chat and Syphon?
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
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
Monocles Chat vs Syphon: key differences
Monocles Chat is written in Java, while Syphon is built with Dart. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Monocles Chat versus AGPL-3.0 for Syphon. Monocles Chat is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Syphon. Syphon has the considerably larger community, at 1,059 GitHub stars versus 100.
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 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 Monocles Chat or Syphon better?
Neither is universally better. Syphon has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Monocles Chat and Syphon free and open-source?
Yes. Monocles Chat is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Syphon under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Monocles Chat and Syphon with Docker?
Monocles Chat: check the project docs for container support. Syphon: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Monocles Chat or Syphon?
Monocles Chat 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.