Snikket vs Monocles Chat
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Snikket
Easy self-hosted XMPP chat for groups
VS
Monocles Chat
Privacy-focused XMPP messenger for Android
| Feature | Snikket | Monocles Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Social Networks | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Lua | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 437 | ★ 100 |
| First released | 2020 | 2021 |
| Replaces | WhatsApp, Signal | WhatsApp, Signal |
Why pick each one
Choose Monocles Chat if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Java
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Snikket or Monocles Chat better?
Neither is universally better. Snikket has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Snikket and Monocles Chat free and open-source?
Yes. Snikket is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Monocles Chat under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Snikket and Monocles Chat with Docker?
Snikket: yes. Monocles Chat: check the project docs for container support.