# Cinny review (2026): is it any good? > Open-source Matrix chat client with a simple interface Checked Nov 13, 2026 ยท graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA. 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. - **Category:** Team Communication - **Made by:** Ajay Bura - **Website:** https://cinny.in - **Runs on:** Web, Windows, macOS, Linux - **Who should skip it:** Not for you if you have no Matrix server, as you need an account on one. - **Facts last checked:** Nov 13, 2026 ## Pricing As of Nov 13, 2026, Cinny is free to use. - **Pricing model:** 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 https://cinny.in on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Cinny before buying. ## 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. ## Good for - People who already use Matrix and want a lighter client - Self-hosters who run the client on their own web server - Anyone who wants an open-source chat client at no cost ## 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. ## ToolGPA grades **GPA: 2.8 out of 4**, graded Nov 13, 2026. 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. - **Value for money: A.** Free and open source under the AGPL. Donations are optional. - **Free plan and trial: A.** Free outright, with the whole client at no cost. - **Features: C.** Chat, encrypted rooms, themes and separate DMs. The site says more Matrix features are still to come. - **Ease of use: C.** No rating on record. You need an account on a Matrix server first. - **Platforms and integrations: C.** Web, Windows, Mac and Linux. No phone app listed and one integration. These are ToolGPA's own grades. 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. ## Where it 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. The category's chart of price against score: https://toolgpa.com/charts/team-chat ## Keep it, 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. - You could not: Chat that a whole team counts on staying up. - You could not: Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other. - You could not: End-to-end encryption done properly. A judgement by ToolGPA from this listing, by rules that are the same for every tool. Nothing was built to test it. ## Works with Matrix **Tags:** Open source, End-to-end encrypted, Team chat, Self-hostable ## Alternatives - [Element](https://toolgpa.com/tools/element): End-to-end encrypted chat and calls on the Matrix standard. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/cinny-vs-element) - [Matrix](https://toolgpa.com/tools/matrix): Open, decentralized network for chat and calls. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/cinny-vs-matrix) - [Zulip](https://toolgpa.com/tools/zulip): Open-source team chat that organizes channels by topic. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/cinny-vs-zulip) - [Mattermost](https://toolgpa.com/tools/mattermost): Self-hosted team messaging with playbooks, calls and boards. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/cinny-vs-mattermost) - [Rocket.Chat](https://toolgpa.com/tools/rocket-chat): Open-source, self-managed chat for security-focused teams. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/cinny-vs-rocket-chat) ## Sources The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026: - https://cinny.in - https://github.com/cinnyapp/cinny - https://github.com/cinnyapp/cinny-desktop Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/cinny Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).