The ejabberd Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about ejabberd 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.
ejabberd
The Insider’s Guide
Erlang messaging server for XMPP, MQTT, SIP and Matrix
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among team communication apps, read from ejabberd’s own pages.
Made by ProcessOne · 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 ejabberd’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on ejabberd’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
2.0
GPA, above 0 of the 75 other team communication apps we grade
ejabberd is a messaging server written in Erlang that speaks XMPP, MQTT, SIP and Matrix from one process. The Community Server is free under the GPLv2 license, and ProcessOne sells a Business Edition and a managed cloud service called Fluux. It is infrastructure for building or hosting chat rather than a finished team chat app.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about ejabberd, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It is server software, set up and run by an administrator.
- 1
Best for a large-scale XMPP, MQTT and SIP server
ejabberd is an Erlang messaging server for XMPP, MQTT, SIP and Matrix, with clustering and a REST API.
- 2
Paid plans start at about $223.44 a month
As its pricing page puts it: €200 per month (Fluux managed cloud).
- 3
There is a free plan
The Community Server is free and open source under GPLv2, self-hosted.
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 5
Four protocols in one server
XMPP, an MQTT broker, a SIP service and Matrix bridging run in the same process.
- 6
Clustering
The Community Server has standard active-active clustering; the Business Edition and Fluux add consistent-hash clustering.
- 7
Mobile and web support
Push notifications, message archive management, multi-device sync, WebSocket and BOSH are built into the server.
- 8
A 2.0 GPA, above 0 of 75
That is against the other team communication apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace ejabberd you would be making chat that a whole team counts on staying up. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
ejabberd at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from €200 per month (Fluux managed cloud)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- ProcessOne, since 2002
- Category
- Team Communication
- Our grade
- 2.0 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for a large-scale XMPP, MQTT and SIP server
ejabberd is an Erlang messaging server for XMPP, MQTT, SIP and Matrix, with clustering and a REST API. The Community edition is free to host yourself, but mobile push and relay features sit in a €16,000-a-year Business Edition. Users also need a separate chat app.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | The Community Server is free to self-host. Managed Fluux starts at €200 a month and Business at €16,000 a year, so the paid side is steep. |
| Free plan and trial | B | The Community Server is free under GPLv2 with no user cap, but you host it and some features are paid. |
| Features | C | Four protocols, clustering and a REST API. TURN, ICE and mobile push are not in the free edition. |
| Ease of use | D | No rating on record. It is server software, set up and run by an administrator. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Runs on Windows, Mac and Linux servers, with some integrations. It is a server, so users need a separate app. |
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 ejabberd is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Developers building chat or messaging into a product
- Operators who need very large numbers of connected users
- Organizations that want XMPP self-hosted or fully managed
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
~$223.44
A month to start. There is a free plan too
ejabberd has a free plan. Paid plans start at €200 per month (Fluux managed cloud).
The Community Server is free to self-host.
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.
The free plan
The Community Server is free and open source under GPLv2, self-hosted.
Read from process-one.net on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Erlang messaging server for XMPP, MQTT, SIP and Matrix. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, public API, team chat.
Four protocols, clustering and a REST API.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- PostgreSQL
- MySQL
- LDAP
- XMPPFramework
- Smack
ejabberd is made by ProcessOne, and has been around since 2002.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
0/75
Other team communication apps it is graded above
ejabberd's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 0 of the 75 other team communication apps we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 41 of 75) and worst on ease of use (D, above 1).
Its paid plans start at about $223.44 a month, against a middle price of $6.90 for the category: 50 of the 51 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. 60 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 76 team communication apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. ejabberd’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 7 of 75
- BFree plan and trialAbove 41 of 75
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 75
- DEase of useAbove 1 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. ejabberd 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
To replace ejabberd you would be making chat that a whole team counts on staying up. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 67 of the 75 other team communication apps grade higher. It costs $2,681.28 a year. ejabberd is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
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.
- It plugs into other products, PostgreSQL, MySQL and LDAP among them, and has an API.
What this rests on. ejabberd’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
Openfire, Matrix, Mattermost, Rocket.Chat and Zulip
The 5 tools ejabberd is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Openfire
Free
- 3.0GPA
Matrix
Free
Open, decentralized network for chat and calls.
- Only Matrix lists a web app.
- Only Matrix lists iOS and Android apps.
- Matrix is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
Mattermost
Free plan
Self-hosted team messaging with playbooks, calls and boards.
- Only Mattermost lists a web app.
- Only Mattermost lists iOS and Android apps.
- 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 a web app.
- Only Rocket.Chat lists iOS and Android apps.
- Rocket.Chat is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
Zulip
Free plan · from $3.50/mo
Open-source team chat that organizes channels by topic.
- Only Zulip lists a web app.
- Only Zulip lists iOS and Android apps.
- Zulip 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 ejabberd free?
ejabberd has a free plan. The Community Server is free and open source under GPLv2, self-hosted.
How much does ejabberd cost?
ejabberd lists 3 plans. Community Server: $0.
What platforms does ejabberd work on?
ejabberd is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does ejabberd have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. ejabberd is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does ejabberd have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. ejabberd is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is ejabberd open source?
Yes. ejabberd is open source, according to its own site. It can also be run on a server of your own.
Does ejabberd have an API?
Yes. ejabberd offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does ejabberd integrate with?
ejabberd's listing names PostgreSQL, MySQL, LDAP, XMPPFramework and Smack.
Who makes ejabberd?
ejabberd is made by ProcessOne. It dates from 2002.
What are the alternatives to ejabberd?
The closest alternatives to ejabberd in our directory are Openfire, Matrix, Mattermost, Rocket.Chat and Zulip.
How does ejabberd compare with other team communication apps?
ejabberd's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 0 of the 75 other team communication apps we grade, and level with 8.
Is ejabberd good value for money?
ToolGPA grades ejabberd C for value for money. Its paid plans start at about $223.44 a month, against a middle price of $6.90 for the category: 50 of the 51 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of ejabberd?
To replace ejabberd you would be making chat that a whole team counts on staying up.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from ejabberd’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 ProcessOne'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 ProcessOne. Prices change, so check process-one.net 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
- ejabberd, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/ejabberd
- 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, "ejabberd: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/ejabberd
Know someone choosing between team communication apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/ejabberd/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded team communication apps after ejabberd, 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 ejabberd’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. ejabberd is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by ProcessOne. Prices and plans change: check process-one.net before you buy.