Cinny review (2026): is it any good?
Open-source Matrix chat client with a simple interface
Cinny report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for a simple Matrix chat client
Cinny is a free, open-source client for Matrix, with encrypted chat and themes on the web and desktop. It is only a client, so you need an account on a Matrix server, and the project's page lists no iPhone or Android app.
Who Cinny is for
- 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
Who Cinny is not for
- 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
Why Cinny gets a 2.8
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree and open source under the AGPL. Donations are optional.
- AFree plan and trialFree outright, with the whole client at no cost.
- CFeaturesChat, encrypted rooms, themes and separate DMs. The site says more Matrix features are still to come.
- CEase of useNo rating on record. You need an account on a Matrix server first.
- CPlatforms and integrationsWeb, Windows, Mac and Linux. No phone app listed and one integration.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Cinny's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/cinny#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/cinny.svg" alt="Cinny: 2.8 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Cinny stands among team communication apps
Cinny's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 49 of the 75 other team communication apps we grade, and level with 10.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 60 of 75) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 0).
Cinny has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 76 team communication apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Cinny’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 58 of 75, level with 17
- AFree plan and trialAbove 60 of 75, level with 15
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 75, level with 61
- CEase of useAbove 11 of 75, level with 46
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 75, level with 8
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 66 team communication apps. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
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
Keep Cinny, or make your own?
Keep it
Cinny is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could not
- Chat that a whole team counts on staying up.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- End-to-end encryption done properly.
What this rests on. Cinny’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is Cinny?
Cinny is a client for the Matrix network, the open protocol for decentralized, end-to-end encrypted chat. It runs in a browser at app.cinny.in or as a desktop app, and keeps direct messages separate from channels. The source code is open and the project is funded by donations.
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- 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.
Cinny pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Cinny is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- Free and open source; the site asks for voluntary financial contributions.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | The full client, with optional donations through Open Collective, GitHub Sponsors or Liberapay. |
Read from cinny.in on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Cinny before you buy.
Works with
- Matrix
Cinny alternatives
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- Cinny vs Matrix
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- Cinny vs Mattermost
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- Cinny vs Rocket.Chat
Free plan
Common questions
Does Cinny have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Cinny is listed for Web, Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Cinny have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Cinny is listed for Web, Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is Cinny open source?
Yes. Cinny is open source, according to its own site. It can also be run on a server of your own.
Is Cinny end-to-end encrypted?
Cinny describes itself as end-to-end encrypted on its own site. Nobody here has audited that.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.