Open source messaging projects
Every project in the registry tagged messaging, ranked by real GitHub adoption.
Instant messaging platform. Backend in Go. Clients: Swift iOS, Java Android, JS webapp, scriptable command line; chatbots
Lightweight, self-hosted, open-source chat server with voice, video, text, and screen sharing. Built for small groups who want privacy, simplicity, and full con
Messaging SDK with AI agents for web, iOS, and Android
Related tags
Frequently asked questions
How many open source messaging projects are there?
This registry tracks 8 projects tagged messaging, with 37,274 GitHub stars between them. The most-adopted is chat at 13,508 stars.
Are these messaging projects free to use?
Yes — 8 of the 8 carry an explicit open-source licence across 4 distinct licences, so there is no licence fee. Where a project also sells a hosted or enterprise version, the self-hosted path remains free.
Which messaging project should I choose?
The list above is ranked by GitHub stars, but stars measure attention rather than fit. Check three things on each card: the licence (permissive versus copyleft), the language it is written in, and the last-push date — a high-star project that has not been pushed in a year is a liability.
Are these messaging projects still maintained?
8 of the 8 were pushed in the last 90 days, and every card shows its exact last-push date so you can see the rest. Sort your shortlist by that date before committing to a migration.