Prose vs Synapse
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Prose | Synapse |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 64 · Good | 89 · Excellent |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | MPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Vue | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 50 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 59 | ★ 4,643 |
| First released | 2025 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Discord, Facebook Messenger, Signal | Slack, Discord, WhatsApp |
What are Prose and Synapse?
Prose
Prose Web application. XMPP client for team messaging.
Synapse
Synapse is the reference homeserver implementation for Matrix, an open protocol for decentralized, federated, secure chat. It targets communities and organizations running their own messaging infrastructure. It is deployed via Docker or native packages.
- Federated Matrix homeserver
- End-to-end encrypted rooms
- Bridges to other networks
- Many compatible clients
Prose vs Synapse: key differences
Prose is written in Vue, while Synapse is built with Python. Licensing differs — MPL-2.0 for Prose versus AGPL-3.0 for Synapse. Prose is the lighter option, starting around 50 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Synapse. Synapse is the more established project (first released 2014), while Prose arrived in 2025. Synapse has the considerably larger community, at 4,643 GitHub stars versus 59. Synapse lists first-class Docker deployment; Prose does not.
Why pick each one
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
Choose Synapse if…
- Open federated protocol
- Strong encryption
- Bridges to other chats
Watch out for
- Resource and maintenance heavy
- Complex to operate well
Frequently asked questions
Is Prose or Synapse better?
Neither is universally better. Synapse has the larger community, while Prose is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Prose and Synapse free and open-source?
Yes. Prose is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Synapse under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Prose and Synapse with Docker?
Prose: check the project docs for container support. Synapse: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Prose or Synapse?
Prose has the smaller minimum footprint at 50 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Synapse. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.