Simple-Matrix-Bot-Lib vs Synapse
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Simple-Matrix-Bot-Lib
Beginner-friendly framework for Matrix bots
VS
Synapse
Reference homeserver for the Matrix network
| Feature | Simple-Matrix-Bot-Lib | Synapse |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 100 | ★ 4,503 |
| First released | 2021 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Slack bot framework | Slack, Discord, WhatsApp |
Why pick each one
Choose Simple-Matrix-Bot-Lib if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Simple-Matrix-Bot-Lib or Synapse better?
Neither is universally better. Synapse has the larger community, while Simple-Matrix-Bot-Lib is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Simple-Matrix-Bot-Lib and Synapse free and open-source?
Yes. Simple-Matrix-Bot-Lib is licensed under MIT and Synapse under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Simple-Matrix-Bot-Lib and Synapse with Docker?
Simple-Matrix-Bot-Lib: check the project docs for container support. Synapse: yes.