What is MeshChatX?

MeshChatX is a full-featured client for the Reticulum Network Stack, forked from the original MeshChat. It runs a local Python service with a Vue 3 web interface that you can host on a server, desktop, or mobile device. The app provides end-to-end encrypted direct messaging via LXMF, voice calls via LXST, a NomadNet page browser, RRC relay chat hubs, an offline-capable OpenLayers map, network visualization, file transfers, bot support, and a Micron editor. Multiple cryptographic identities can be created and switched, each with separate SQLite databases and settings. Authentication options include optional password auth and OIDC single sign-on with several providers. The UI features a dark theme and responsive design for mobile browsers, plus a native Android APK. Installation methods include Docker (standard, hardened, and extra images with I2P/Yggdrasil), PyPI wheels (pip/pipx/uv), Flatpak, AppImage, deb/rpm packages, Electron desktop builds, and Android APKs. The project is licensed under 0BSD for new code with upstream portions remaining MIT. Development ends January 1, 2027, with v5.0.0 as the final release.

Should you self-host MeshChatX?

MeshChatX scores 46/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #64 of 110 in Chat. It has 163 GitHub stars.

It shipped 4 stable releases in the past year. The latest, v4.10.7, came out on 11 October 2026.

Setup is moderate: expect some configuration beyond a single command. An official Docker image is available. It is Other-licensed and written mostly in Python.

Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is Zulip (82/100, 26 133 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See MeshChatX vs Zulip side by side.