Nheko 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 | Nheko | Prose |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 77 · Good | 64 · Good |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | C++ | Vue |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 50 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,496 | ★ 59 |
| First released | 2017 | 2025 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord | Discord, Facebook Messenger, Signal |
What are Nheko and Prose?
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
Prose
Prose Web application. XMPP client for team messaging.
Nheko vs Prose: key differences
Nheko is written in C++, while Prose is built with Vue. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Nheko versus MPL-2.0 for Prose. Prose is the lighter option, starting around 50 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Nheko. Nheko is the more established project (first released 2017), while Prose arrived in 2025. Nheko has the considerably larger community, at 2,496 GitHub stars versus 59.
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 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 Nheko or Prose better?
Neither is universally better. Nheko has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Nheko and Prose free and open-source?
Yes. Nheko is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Prose under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Nheko and Prose with Docker?
Nheko: check the project docs for container support. Prose: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Nheko or Prose?
Prose has the smaller minimum footprint at 50 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Nheko. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.