Top pick · highest health
ejabberd
XMPP instant messaging server.
★ 6.7k 145 commits / 90d ⟳ 2 days ago GPL-2.0 Docker
Category
Open source communication - xmpp - servers
Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol servers. 6 self-hosted servers tools are listed here, ordered purely by a repository health score that Repoly recomputes nightly. ejabberd leads at 95/100 with 145 commits in the last 90 days and 6.7k stars, followed by MongooseIM (93) and Openfire (84). 3 of the 6 score 70 or above, 3 publish a Docker image, and the median health is 72. GPL-2.0 is the most common licence, carried by 2 of them. Between them they stand in for WhatsApp. The score weighs commits in the last 90 days, release recency, stars, archive status and Docker support; a low number means low measurable activity, not low quality, so a finished, stable tool can legitimately sit lower down.
updated Oct 2026 6 tools ★ 12k stars 3 with Docker median 72
Best for…
Ranked by health
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MongooseIM
Mobile messaging platform with a focus on performance and scalability.
★ 1.8k 218 commits / 90d ⟳ today GPL-2.0 Docker
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Snikket
All-in-one Dockerized easy XMPP solution, including web admin and clients.
★ 476 16 commits / 90d ⟳ 7 days ago Apache-2.0 Docker
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| # | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ejabberd Docker | 6.7k | 145 | GPL-2.0 | 2 days ago | |
| 2 | MongooseIM Docker | 1.8k | 218 | GPL-2.0 | today | |
| 3 | Openfire | 3.1k | 260 | Apache-2.0 | 8 days ago | |
| 4 | Tigase | 358 | 13 | GPL-3.0 | 26 days ago | |
| 5 | Snikket Docker | 476 | 16 | Apache-2.0 | 7 days ago | |
| 6 | Prosody IM | 0 | 0 | MIT | unknown |
How the XMPP server tools compare
ejabberd edges MongooseIM 95 to 93, and most of the difference is stars: 6.7k stars against 1.8k stars. MongooseIM is the busier codebase, though, with 218 commits in 90 days to 145.
The most recent release is MongooseIM 6.10.0, published 15 days ago. Snikket publishes no tagged releases, which costs up to 25 of the 100 points. None of the measured options scores under 40. By stack, Erlang (2), Java (2) and Lua (1) are the most common. Openfire, Snikket and Prosody IM are permissively licensed; ejabberd, MongooseIM and Tigase are copyleft. Prosody IM is not hosted on a forge Repoly can read, so it has no measured score yet.
Communication - XMPP - Servers: common questions
What is the best open source XMPP server tool?
By Repoly's GitHub health score, ejabberd at 95/100 (145 commits in 90 days, 26.09 from 1 month ago). MongooseIM is next at 93; ejabberd's lead comes mostly from stars. The score measures maintenance, not features, so shortlist the top few and try them.
Which XMPP server tools are the most actively developed?
Openfire (260 commits in 90 days), MongooseIM (218 commits in 90 days) and ejabberd (145 commits in 90 days). Commit activity is 35 of the 100 health points, the largest single term.
Which XMPP server tools can I run in Docker?
3 of 6 publish a Docker image or Compose file, led by ejabberd, MongooseIM and Snikket.
Which XMPP server tools have a permissive licence?
3 of 6: Openfire (Apache-2.0), Snikket (Apache-2.0), Prosody IM (MIT). 3 are copyleft.
Which paid products can open source XMPP server tools replace?
WhatsApp (ejabberd ranks highest here).
