Nheko vs Openfire
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Nheko | Openfire |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 77 · Good | 87 · Excellent |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | C++ | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,496 | ★ 3,064 |
| First released | 2017 | 2004 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord | Slack, Microsoft Teams |
What are Nheko and Openfire?
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
Openfire
Openfire is a mature, cross-platform real-time collaboration server that uses the XMPP protocol. It offers a clean web administration console and an extensive plugin ecosystem for chat, presence, and group communication.
- Web-based admin console
- Rich plugin ecosystem
- LDAP and Active Directory integration
- Group chat and presence
Nheko vs Openfire: key differences
Nheko is written in C++, while Openfire is built with Java. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Nheko versus Apache-2.0 for Openfire. Nheko is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Openfire. Openfire is the more established project (first released 2004), while Nheko arrived in 2017. Openfire 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 Openfire if…
- Easy to administer
- Long track record
Watch out for
- Java memory footprint
- Dated user interface
Frequently asked questions
Is Nheko or Openfire better?
Neither is universally better. Openfire has the larger community, while Nheko is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Nheko and Openfire free and open-source?
Yes. Nheko is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Openfire under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Nheko and Openfire with Docker?
Nheko: check the project docs for container support. Openfire: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Nheko or Openfire?
Nheko has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Openfire. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.