# sama-server vs Tinode

> Two self-hosted [XMPP alternatives](https://selfhost.directory/alternative-to/xmpp), compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | sama-server | Tinode |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 45/100 | 67/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #68 of 110 in Chat | #5 of 13 in Instant Messaging |
| GitHub stars | 161 | 13 541 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | — | +25 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 5 | 5 |
| Latest release | 0.37.2 · 10 Sept 2026 ✓ | v0.25.3 · 4 Jul 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | No | Yes ✓ |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Main language | JavaScript | Go |

## Which one should you pick?

Tinode scores 67/100 against 45/100 for sama-server, so it is the safer default.

Tinode is growing faster right now (+25 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [sama-server](https://selfhost.directory/project/sama-server) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/sama-server.md)
- [Tinode](https://selfhost.directory/project/tinode) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/tinode.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/sama-server-vs-tinode