head to head · open source
Signal vs Cinny
Signal has 29,364 GitHub stars, 6,892 forks, 498 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. Cinny has 3,897 stars, 578 forks, 354 open issues and last shipped 5 days ago. Signal leads on adoption by 654% (29,364 vs 3,897 stars). Signal is written in Kotlin under AGPL-3.0; Cinny is written in TypeScript under AGPL-3.0. Signal has attracted 23% as many forks as stars, Cinny 15%. Signal was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| Signal | Cinny | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 29K | ★ 3.9K |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Written in | Kotlin | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-09-18 | 2026-09-15 |
| Forks | ⑂ 6.9K | ⑂ 578 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Signal if
- You weight community size — 29K stars and counting
- You want the AGPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Kotlin
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Cinny if
- You want the Cinny feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the AGPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and Cinny fits your workflow better
About Signal
Signal Android is a secure messaging application for Android devices that delivers private communication via end to end encryption. Developed by Signal Messenger, LLC, it operates within the broader Signal ecosystem, which includes official iOS and desktop clients. The app uses mobile data or Wi Fi to send and receive encrypted messages, voice calls, and video calls without relying on traditional SMS or telephony infrastructure.
read the full Signal overview →
About Cinny
Cinny is an open source Matrix client written in TypeScript under AGPL 3.0. It lives in the Matrix ecosystem and is presented as "yet another matrix client," focusing on a simple, elegant, and secure interface. Its stated goal is an instant messaging application that is easy for people and has a modern touch.
read the full Cinny overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Signal or Cinny more popular?
Signal has 29,364 GitHub stars and Cinny has 3,897. Signal has the larger community by that measure.
Are Signal and Cinny free?
Both are open source. Signal is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Cinny under AGPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Signal and Cinny?
Signal is written in Kotlin and Cinny in TypeScript. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, Signal or Cinny?
Choose Signal if you want the larger community (29,364 stars) or its AGPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose Cinny if its feature set, stack or AGPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.