Cinny vs Matrix (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Matrix grades higher than Cinny: 3.0 against 2.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Cinny grades higher on the free plan. Matrix grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Which one is for you
Pick Cinny if
- Fits if you already have a Matrix account and want a lighter client
- Works for people who want Matrix in a browser or on a desktop
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you have no Matrix server, as you need an account on one
- Skip it if you want a phone app, as none is listed
- Watch out: server limits and features come from your Matrix server
- Watch out: some Matrix features may be missing, as the site says more are still to come
Pick Matrix if
- Fits if you want chat that no single company controls
- Works for communities that want to run their own server
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want one app that behaves the same everywhere, since features depend on the client
- Tight if you share big files on the free homeserver, as attachments stop at 10MB
- Watch out: the matrix.org server is crowded and has usage limits
- Watch out: running your own homeserver, or paying a host, is a separate cost and effort the Foundation does not endorse
- Watch out: Element X is mobile only and Nheko is desktop only
How we grade them
| 2.8GPACinnyGood | 3.0GPAMatrixVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree and open source under the AGPL. Donations are optional. | AThe protocol and its clients are free to use, and the Foundation runs a free public matrix.org homeserver. Free software anyone can use counts as free and substantial. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright, with the whole client at no cost. | BThe free homeserver allows 10MB per attachment and 100MB of uploads per 24 hours, 500MB per 28 days. Most people get by, but heavy sharers hit it. |
| Features | CChat, encrypted rooms, themes and separate DMs. The site says more Matrix features are still to come. | CFederation, a choice of clients, spaces, threads and bridges to Slack and Discord. Calls, threads and encryption depend on the client you pick, which is a gap. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. You need an account on a Matrix server first. | CNo store rating on record. You pick a homeserver and a client before you start, so there is some learning. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb, Windows, Mac and Linux. No phone app listed and one integration. | AWeb, Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android clients exist, with bridges to Discord, Slack, Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp and Mattermost. Which platform a given client covers differs. |
| Best for | a simple Matrix chat client | open, federated chat you can host yourself |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Cinny and Matrix. How we grade
Price against what you get
Cinny has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Matrix has no paid plan and scores 2.7.
Matrix scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other team communication apps on the chart, none scores higher than Cinny for less, and none scores higher than Matrix for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
In commonFree planWebWindowsmacOSLinuxOpen sourceSelf-hostableEnd-to-end encryptedTeam chat
At a glance
| Cinny | Matrix | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free and open source; the site asks for voluntary financial contributions. | The protocol is free to use, and the Foundation runs a free public matrix.org homeserver with usage limits on attachments and data. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Ajay Bura | The Matrix.org Foundation |
| Price read from | cinny.in | matrix.org |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Cinny
- Cinny is a client only; you need an account on a Matrix homeserver, and server limits and features come from that server.
- The project's GitHub page lists desktop installers but no iOS or Android app.
- The source is under the AGPL-3.0 license, and a Dockerfile is in the repository for hosting it yourself.
- The site says more features are still to come, so some Matrix features may be missing.
Matrix
- Matrix is a protocol, not one app: features such as calls, threads and encryption depend on the client you choose.
- The public matrix.org homeserver is crowded and has usage limits; the Foundation says premium plan pricing is not yet published.
- Running your own homeserver, or paying a hosting provider, is a separate cost and effort that the Foundation does not endorse or guarantee.
- The platforms listed are those of the featured clients, which differ: Element X is mobile only, while Nheko is desktop only.
Key features
Cinny
- Matrix client
- It connects to Matrix, so you sign in with an account on any Matrix server rather than a Cinny-run service.
- Encrypted chat
- The site says conversations are protected by end-to-end encryption.
- DMs separate from channels
- Direct messages are kept apart from channels to reduce clutter.
- Themes
- The home page shows selectable light and other themes.
- Web and desktop
- The web app is at app.cinny.in, and installers for macOS, Windows and Linux are on the desktop project's GitHub releases.
Matrix
- Federation between servers
- Accounts look like @username:example.com, and people on different providers can message each other, much as email works across providers.
- Choice of client
- Matrix is only the standard; you chat through a client. The clients page lists Element, Element X, FluffyChat, Cinny and Nheko across web, desktop and mobile.
- Encryption in clients that support it
- End-to-end encryption is listed as a capability of the featured clients, including for media and calls where a client supports them.
- Spaces and threads
- Clients can browse and manage Matrix spaces to group rooms for a community, and most featured clients support threaded replies.
- Bridges to other networks
- Bridges connect Matrix rooms to platforms including Discord, Slack, Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp, Mattermost and Google Chat.
- Self-hosting or hosted providers
- Anyone can run their own homeserver, or pick from the hosting providers the Foundation lists, so an organization keeps control of its data.
Plans
Cinny
Free$0
The full client, with optional donations through Open Collective, GitHub Sponsors or Liberapay.
Matrix
Free$0
Matrix.org homeserver account: 10MB per attachment and 100MB of uploads per 24 hours, up to 500MB per 28 days.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Cinny or Matrix?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Cinny and Matrix are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Cinny or Matrix?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Cinny and Matrix have a free plan.
Which platforms do Cinny and Matrix run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Matrix lists iOS and Android apps. Both list a web app and macOS, Windows and Linux apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.