# Shields vs Tigase XMPP Server

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | Shields | Tigase XMPP Server |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 80/100 ✓ | 56/100 |
| Rank in category | #6 of 166 in Developer Tools | #30 of 110 in Chat |
| GitHub stars | 27 331 ✓ | 358 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +125 ✓ | +0 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 3 ✓ |
| Latest release | — | tigase-server-dist-8.4.3 · 4 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Easy ✓ | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Main language | JavaScript | Java |

## Which one should you pick?

Shields scores 80/100 against 56/100 for Tigase XMPP Server, so it is the safer default.

Tigase XMPP Server ships more often: 3 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Shields.

If you want the quickest setup, Shields is easier to run; Tigase XMPP Server needs more configuration.

Shields is growing faster right now (+125 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [Shields](https://selfhost.directory/project/shields) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/shields.md)
- [Tigase XMPP Server](https://selfhost.directory/project/tigase-xmpp-server) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/tigase-xmpp-server.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/shields-vs-tigase-xmpp-server