Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

ejabberd VS Openfire

Compare ejabberd VS Openfire and see what are their differences

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ejabberd logo ejabberd

ejabberd is a robust, massively scalable and extensible XMPP server.

Openfire logo Openfire

Openfire (formerly Wildfire) is a cross-platform instant messaging (IM) and groupchat server.
  • ejabberd Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-22
  • Openfire Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-27

ejabberd features and specs

  • Scalability
    ejabberd is designed to handle large numbers of concurrent users, making it highly scalable. Its architecture can efficiently manage thousands of connections, catering to large-scale deployments.
  • High Availability
    It supports clustering and distributed deployments, ensuring that services remain available even when single nodes fail, thus providing robust reliability.
  • Compliance with Standards
    ejabberd complies with XMPP standards and protocols, ensuring compatibility with other XMPP-based applications and services.
  • Extensibility and Customization
    Offers flexibility via modules, allowing developers to extend and customize its functionalities to fit specific use cases, thanks to its modular architecture.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Works on multiple operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and MacOS, providing flexibility in deployment environments.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source project, ejabberd benefits from a community of developers contributing to its growth and improvement.

Possible disadvantages of ejabberd

  • Complex Setup and Configuration
    Initial setup and configuration can be complex, especially for those unfamiliar with Erlang, the language ejabberd is written in.
  • Resource Intensive
    Given its scalability features, ejabberd can be resource-intensive, which might be overkill for small-scale applications.
  • Learning Curve
    New users might experience a learning curve when integrating and maintaining ejabberd, mainly due to its extensive feature set.
  • Documentation Quality
    While the documentation is comprehensive, it might be perceived as less user-friendly or lacking in examples, which could hinder new developers.
  • Erlang Requirement
    Development or troubleshooting may require knowledge of Erlang, which is not as widely used or known as other programming languages.

Openfire features and specs

  • Easy to Install
    Openfire comes with an easy-to-use installation wizard which makes setting up the server relatively straightforward, even for those with limited technical expertise.
  • Real-time Collaboration Features
    Openfire supports various real-time collaboration tools such as messaging, file transfer, and group chat, which enhances team collaboration.
  • Extensible
    Openfire is built on the Smack library, which allows for easy extension through plugins. Users can add features like multi-user chat, gateways to other protocols, and more.
  • Active Community
    Being an open-source project, Openfire has an active community of developers and users who contribute to its development and provide support.
  • Administration Interface
    Openfire includes a powerful and user-friendly web-based admin console, which simplifies server management and monitoring.
  • Security
    Openfire offers various security features including SSL/TLS support for encrypted communication, making it reliable for enterprise use.

Possible disadvantages of Openfire

  • Scalability Issues
    Openfire can struggle with scalability and performance when handling very large numbers of concurrent users, which might not make it suitable for extremely large deployments.
  • Java Dependency
    The software is Java-based, which could be a limitation for environments where Java is not preferred or where there are specific performance constraints related to JVM.
  • Limited Mobile Support
    While there are some mobile clients available, the experience and features can be inconsistent compared to desktop versions.
  • Maintenance Overhead
    Running and maintaining an Openfire server requires regular updates and monitoring, which can introduce operational overhead.
  • Plugin Quality
    The quality and reliability of third-party plugins can vary, potentially leading to issues if they are not well-maintained.

Analysis of Openfire

Overall verdict

  • Openfire is a solid choice for those looking for an open-source solution for messaging and collaboration. It is especially appealing if you require extensibility and openness provided through plugins and community involvement. However, whether it fits your needs well may also depend on the scale and specific requirements of your project.

Why this product is good

  • Openfire is an open-source, real-time collaboration server that's known for its ease of use and flexibility. It supports robust XMPP (Jabber) protocol which is a stable and efficient protocol for instant messaging and presence. Openfire also offers an extensive plugin library, allowing for additional features and customization. It has a strong community support and frequent updates, ensuring reliability and the inclusion of latest features.

Recommended for

  • Small to medium-sized enterprises seeking a customizable internal communication tool.
  • Developers and open-source enthusiasts who appreciate the flexibility of XMPP and community-driven projects.
  • Teams that require integration with other systems through extensive plugins.

ejabberd videos

Build a Cordova Chat APP using Strophe and eJabberd : XMPP Basics

Openfire videos

The Kamoto OpenFire Pit by Primus [Review]

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ejabberd and Openfire)
Group Chat & Notifications
Communication
46 46%
54% 54
Chat
44 44%
56% 56
Web And Application Servers

User comments

Share your experience with using ejabberd and Openfire. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ejabberd seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

ejabberd mentions (2)

  • What you gonna add to your selfhost stack this year?
    Also a fan of XMPP, ejabberd.im is a formidable piece of software that pretty much just works once you have it all set up and configured. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Alternative to Signal
    It supports voice and video calls, and you use it on your own server (like prosody.im and ejabberd.im). It's also really simple to get a user to create an account on a server you run/a public one and.... It does not require a phone number or an email address. Source: over 4 years ago

Openfire mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Openfire yet. Tracking of Openfire recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing ejabberd and Openfire, you can also consider the following products

Prosody - Prosody is a modern flexible communications server for Jabber/XMPP written in Lua.

Viber - Free and secure calls and messages to anyone, anywhere. Keep your conversations going no matter where you are.

Matrix.org - Matrix is an open standard for decentralized persistent communication over IP.

MiVoice Business - MiVoice Business is a business communication platform that delivers voice, messaging, mobility, presence, conferencing, collaboration and applications.

Mattermost - Mattermost is an open source alternative to Slack.

Screenleap - Screenleap is a web app that lets users share their device's screen over the Internet. These screens can be a desktop computer monitor or a smartphone screen or anything else that can load a web browser. Read more about Screenleap.