PrivMX WebMail vs The Lounge
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted chat & communication options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
PrivMX WebMail
Alternative private mail system - web-based, end-to-end encrypted by
VS
The Lounge
Modern, self-hosted web IRC client
| Feature | PrivMX WebMail | The Lounge |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Chat & Communication | Chat & Communication |
| License | ⊘ Proprietary | MIT |
| Language | PHP | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | docker, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | — | ★ 6,309 |
| First released | 2020 | 2014 |
| Replaces | — | IRCCloud, Slack |
Why pick each one
Choose PrivMX WebMail if…
- Released under the ⊘ Proprietary license
- Written in PHP
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is PrivMX WebMail or The Lounge better?
The Lounge is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider PrivMX WebMail if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are PrivMX WebMail and The Lounge free and open-source?
Yes. PrivMX WebMail is licensed under ⊘ Proprietary and The Lounge under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run PrivMX WebMail and The Lounge with Docker?
PrivMX WebMail: check the project docs for container support. The Lounge: yes.