Openfire
An open-source XMPP chat server you host yourself, administered through a web console.
These buttons open the developer's own site, repository or store listing in a new tab. wares.gg does not host downloads.
About Openfire
Openfire is a real-time collaboration server for instant messaging over XMPP, released under the Apache License. You run it on your own hardware and manage it through a web-based admin console, and any XMPP client can connect to it.
It is actively developed: version 5.1.2 was released in August 2026, and recent work funded by the NLnet Foundation adds SASL2, Bind2 and FAST to cut connection round-trips on mobile. Plugins extend it with features such as video meetings.
Strengths
- Web-based administration console
- Works with any standard XMPP client
- Active releases and protocol work
- Extensible with plugins
Limitations
- Requires running and maintaining your own server
- Users need a separate XMPP client
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source under the Apache License.
- License
- Apache-2.0
- Developer
- Ignite Realtime
- Platforms
- Self-hosted
- How it runs
- Self-hosted
- Best suited for
- Organizations running their own private chat server
- Categories
- Messaging
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to Openfire
Compare allSoftware that can replace Openfire for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
ejabberd
An open-source XMPP server, MQTT broker and SIP service written in Erlang.
ejabberd is an open-source Erlang XMPP server that also includes MQTT and SIP, supports over 400 extensions and scales further, but is more complex to run.
Prosody
A lightweight open-source XMPP chat server written in Lua that you run yourself.
Prosody is a lightweight open-source XMPP server written in Lua with simple setup and low resource use, configured without Openfire's web console.
Snikket
A self-hosted XMPP messaging service with apps, built for families, friends and small groups.
Snikket is a self-hosted XMPP service with its own apps, built for families and small groups, with invitation-only instances rather than large organisations.
Openfire as an alternative
Listings that name Openfire as an alternative.
Tinode
An open-source instant messaging platform with a Go server you can host yourself and mobile and web clients.
Openfire is an Apache-2.0 XMPP server with a web administration console and plugins, working with any standard XMPP client rather than bundled apps.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
Gajim
A desktop chat client for the XMPP network with end-to-end encryption, group chats and file sharing.
Conversations
Android XMPP client with OMEMO end-to-end encryption.
Dino
Modern desktop XMPP client with OMEMO encryption and calls.
Converse
An open-source XMPP chat client that runs in the web browser, as a full app or embedded widget.
Psi
A Qt-based desktop XMPP client for experienced users, with plugins for OMEMO, OTR and OpenPGP encryption.
Synapse
A self-hosted Matrix homeserver, written in Python and Rust and maintained by Element.
