Nheko vs Profanity
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Nheko | Profanity |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 77 · Good | 84 · Excellent |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | C |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,496 | ★ 1,542 |
| First released | 2017 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord | Slack |
What are Nheko and Profanity?
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
Profanity
Profanity is a console XMPP client whose interface is inspired by irssi. It supports OMEMO and OTR encryption, group chats, and a fully keyboard-driven workflow for the terminal.
- Terminal interface
- OMEMO and OTR encryption
- Keyboard-driven workflow
- Plugin support
Nheko vs Profanity: key differences
Nheko is written in C++, while Profanity is built with C. Profanity is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Nheko. Profanity is the more established project (first released 2012), while Nheko arrived in 2017.
Why pick each one
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++
Choose Profanity if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Active community (1.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in C
- Tiny footprint — runs in 32 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Nheko or Profanity better?
Nheko is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Profanity if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Nheko and Profanity free and open-source?
Yes. Nheko is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Profanity under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Nheko and Profanity with Docker?
Nheko: check the project docs for container support. Profanity: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Nheko or Profanity?
Profanity has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Nheko. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.