Nheko vs SchildiChat
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Nheko | SchildiChat |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 77 · Good | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,496 | ★ 464 |
| First released | 2017 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord | Slack, WhatsApp |
What are Nheko and SchildiChat?
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
SchildiChat
SchildiChat is a fork of Element that adds a unified message bubble layout and other usability improvements. The web version can be self-hosted to connect to any Matrix homeserver.
- Message bubble layout
- Element compatibility
- End-to-end encryption
- Unified chat list
Nheko vs SchildiChat: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: SchildiChat's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Nheko is actively maintained. Nheko is written in C++, while SchildiChat is built with Shell. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Nheko versus AGPL-3.0 for SchildiChat. SchildiChat is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Nheko. Nheko is the more established project (first released 2017), while SchildiChat arrived in 2020. Nheko has the considerably larger community, at 2,496 GitHub stars versus 464. SchildiChat lists first-class Docker deployment; Nheko does not.
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 SchildiChat if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Shell
Watch out for
- Tracks Element upstream
- Matrix-only
Frequently asked questions
Is Nheko or SchildiChat 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 SchildiChat free and open-source?
Yes. Nheko is licensed under GPL-3.0 and SchildiChat under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Nheko and SchildiChat with Docker?
Nheko: check the project docs for container support. SchildiChat: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Nheko or SchildiChat?
SchildiChat has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Nheko. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.