The Cinny Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Cinny in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Cinny
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source Matrix chat client with a simple interface
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among team communication apps, read from Cinny’s own pages.
Made by Ajay Bura · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Cinny’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Cinny’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 49 of the 75 other team communication apps we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Cinny, taken from its own pages and our grades.
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.
- 1
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.
- 2
It is free
Cinny has no paid plan at all. Free and open source; the site asks for voluntary financial contributions.
- 3
It runs on 4 platforms
Web, Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 4
Matrix client
It connects to Matrix, so you sign in with an account on any Matrix server rather than a Cinny-run service.
- 5
Encrypted chat
The site says conversations are protected by end-to-end encryption.
- 6
DMs separate from channels
Direct messages are kept apart from channels to reduce clutter.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 49 of 75
That is against the other team communication apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Cinny is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Cinny at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Ajay Bura
- Category
- Team Communication
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
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 it 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
Good to know
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Cinny is free to use.
Free outright, with the whole client at no cost.
Free
$0
The full client, with optional donations through Open Collective, GitHub Sponsors or Liberapay.
The free plan
Free and open source; the site asks for voluntary financial contributions.
Read from cinny.in on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows and Linux
Open-source Matrix chat client with a simple interface. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, end-to-end encrypted, team chat.
Chat, encrypted rooms, themes and separate DMs.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Matrix
Cinny is made by Ajay Bura.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
49/75
Other team communication apps it is graded above
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
- AFree plan and trialAbove 60 of 75
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 75
- CEase of useAbove 11 of 75
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 75
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 66 team communication apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Cinny is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Element, Matrix, Zulip, Mattermost and Rocket.Chat
The 5 tools Cinny is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Element
Free plan
End-to-end encrypted chat and calls on the Matrix standard.
- Only Element lists iOS and Android apps.
- Element also covers video calls and file sharing.
- 3.0GPA
Matrix
Free
Open, decentralized network for chat and calls.
- Only Matrix lists iOS and Android apps.
- 2.8GPA
Zulip
Free plan · from $3.50/mo
Open-source team chat that organizes channels by topic.
- Only Zulip lists iOS and Android apps.
- Cinny is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Zulip also covers file sharing.
- 2.4GPA
Mattermost
Free plan
Self-hosted team messaging with playbooks, calls and boards.
- Only Mattermost lists iOS and Android apps.
- Cinny is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Mattermost also covers kanban boards, workflow automation and AI agents.
- 2.4GPA
Rocket.Chat
Free plan
Open-source, self-managed chat for security-focused teams.
- Only Rocket.Chat lists iOS and Android apps.
- Rocket.Chat also covers file sharing.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Cinny free?
Yes. Cinny is free to use.
How much does Cinny cost?
Cinny lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Cinny work on?
Cinny is available on Web, Windows, macOS and Linux.
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.
Is Cinny end-to-end encrypted?
Cinny describes itself as end-to-end encrypted on its own site. Nobody here has audited that.
What does Cinny integrate with?
Cinny's listing names Matrix. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Cinny?
Cinny is made by Ajay Bura.
What are the alternatives to Cinny?
The closest alternatives to Cinny in our directory are Element, Matrix, Zulip, Mattermost and Rocket.Chat.
How does Cinny compare with other 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.
Is Cinny good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Cinny A for value for money. Cinny has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Cinny?
Cinny is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Cinny’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. 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.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Ajay Bura. Prices change, so check cinny.in before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Cinny, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/cinny
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Cinny: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/cinny
Know someone choosing between team communication apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/cinny/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded team communication apps after Cinny, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Team Communication Insider's GuideEvery one of the 76 team communication apps we grade, compared
- Discord Insider's GuideFree text, voice and video chat built around servers3.6 GPA
- Pumble Insider's GuideTeam chat with unlimited message history on the free plan3.6 GPA
- Zoho Cliq Insider's GuideTeam chat, calls and meetings from the Zoho suite3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Cinny’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Cinny is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Ajay Bura. Prices and plans change: check cinny.in before you buy.