ejabberd vs OpenIM (2026): which should you pick?

Pick ejabberd if

• Fits if you run a large messaging service and know Erlang or XMPP
• Works for companies that want to start free and add paid support later

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you want a chat app, as it is a server and users need a separate client
• Pricey if you want managed hosting, at €200 a month and rising with traffic
• Pricey if you want Business Edition, at €16,000 a year for a 2-node cluster
• Watch out: TURN, ICE and push for iOS and Android are not in the Community Server
• Skip it if you need paid support on the free edition, since it is community forums only

Pick OpenIM if

• Fits if you are a developer who wants chat inside your own product
• Works for companies that will host their own messaging server

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you want a ready chat app, as the open-source part is for building one
• Watch out: Business and Enterprise prices are not published
• Watch out: voice and video are separate modules bought as needed
• Skip it if you do not want to self-host, since Kubernetes deployment is an Enterprise feature
• Too light for production without the commercial clients, as the site says Enterprise is for that

ejabberd

• It is a server, not a chat app: users need a separate XMPP client, and you run it yourself unless you pay for Fluux.
• Fluux is priced in euros and by traffic (Jabs) rather than per user; the first step is €200 a month, and the Growing and Established networks start at €1,400 and €6,000 a month.
• The Business Edition price of €16,000 a year is for a 2-node cluster, and its TURN/ICE relay and push features are not in the Community Server.
• Support on the Community Server is community forums and documentation only.

OpenIM

• OpenIM is not a single chat app. Open Source is meant for development and custom clients, and the site says Enterprise is for production.
• Business and Enterprise have no published prices; they are bought through a request-a-trial and contract process.
• Voice and video and video meetings are separate modules purchased as needed on the commercial editions.
• The open-source GitHub page lists an Electron demo app for Windows, Mac and Linux, but the site presents these as demos.

ejabberd

Four protocols in one server

XMPP, an MQTT broker, a SIP service and Matrix bridging run in the same process.

Clustering

The Community Server has standard active-active clustering; the Business Edition and Fluux add consistent-hash clustering.

Mobile and web support

Push notifications, message archive management, multi-device sync, WebSocket and BOSH are built into the server.

REST API and CLI

A REST API and the ejabberdctl command line cover user and room management.

Database backends

The site lists PostgreSQL, MySQL, LDAP and ODBC backends.

Business and managed options

Long-term support releases, FIPS compliance and direct engineer support come with the Business Edition, and Fluux runs it as a managed service.

OpenIM

Chat and messaging

One-to-one chat, groups, large groups, message history, offline messages, receipts, search and multi-device sync.

Voice and video

Voice calls, video calls, group calls, video meetings and screen sharing, sold as separate modules for the commercial editions.

Client SDKs

SDKs for iOS, Android, web (JavaScript), Flutter and React Native, and the site says it covers 10+ client platforms.

Server API and webhooks

Server APIs and webhook callbacks connect accounts, permissions and events to your own backend.

Self-hosted deployment

OpenIM Server runs in your own cloud or private network, and Enterprise adds Kubernetes and a high-availability cluster.

ejabberd

• Community Server$0

  Open source under GPLv2; you host it yourself. Supports XMPP, MQTT, SIP and Matrix, with community forums and documentation.

• Fluux Emerging€200

  per month, managed cloud, 1 node on shared servers

  Managed by ProcessOne, with a shared-server domain and standard support. Price rises with traffic measured in Jabs: 9,000,000 Jabs at €200, 45,000,000 at €500.

• Business Edition€16,000

  per year for a 2-node cluster

  Commercial license with long-term support releases, push for iOS, Android and Firebase, and direct support from ProcessOne. Sold through sales.

OpenIM

• Open Source$0

  OpenIM Server and IM SDK for development and custom client integration; you host it yourself.

• BusinessCustom

  Production-ready client UI on multiple platforms under a commercial license. No price is published.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Everything in Business plus advanced messaging, Kubernetes deployment and high availability. No price is published.