Spectrum 2 vs Typebot
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?
Spectrum 2
Transport and gateway framework for messaging networks
VS
Typebot
Conversational app builder (alternative to Typeform and Landbot)
| Feature | Spectrum 2 | Typebot |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Chat & Communication | Chat & Communication |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 418 | ★ 10,248 |
| First released | 2012 | 2026 |
| Replaces | Bitlbee | — |
Why pick each one
Choose Spectrum 2 if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in C++
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Choose Typebot if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 10.2k GitHub stars
- Written in TypeScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Spectrum 2 or Typebot better?
Typebot is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Spectrum 2 if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Spectrum 2 and Typebot free and open-source?
Yes. Spectrum 2 is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Typebot under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Spectrum 2 and Typebot with Docker?
Spectrum 2: yes. Typebot: yes.