Prosody IM

Self-Hosted

Lightweight, open-source XMPP server for real-time communication

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Overview

Prosody IM is a minimalistic, modular XMPP (Jabber) server built for ease of setup and efficiency. It supports core features like instant messaging, presence, and group chats, plus extensions via modules (file transfer, MUC, PubSub). Deployment is straightforward—runs on Linux, macOS, Windows; uses simple Lua config files and integrates with LDAP/SQL auth systems. Resource-friendly, ideal for small/medium setups or embedded environments. Open-source under MIT license with active community support for modules and troubleshooting.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE 

version: '3'
services:
  prosody_im:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: prosody-im
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

  • Modular architecture with extensible modules
  • Lightweight and low-resource footprint
  • Simple Lua-based configuration
  • Supports core XMPP standards and extensions

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Prosody IM hard to install?

Prosody is designed for ease of installation. It’s available via package managers on most Linux distributions (apt, yum), with binaries for Windows/macOS. The Lua-based config file is simple, and clear documentation guides setup—even users with basic server knowledge can get it running quickly.

? Is it a good alternative to Slack?

Yes. Prosody offers self-hosted, open XMPP-based communication, giving you full control over your data. Unlike Slack’s proprietary cloud model, it supports cross-platform XMPP clients and modular extensions, making it a privacy-focused alternative for teams or individuals.

? Is it completely free?

Yes. Prosody is released under the MIT open-source license, meaning it’s free to use, modify, and distribute without any cost or subscription fees. All core features and community-developed modules are available at no charge.

Top Alternatives

Slack Compare
Microsoft Teams Compare

People Also Ask about Prosody IM

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Tool Info

Pricing Open Source
Category Communication - XMPP - Servers
Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

  • ⊕ Open-source (MIT license)
  • ⊕ Easy to configure and deploy
  • ⊕ Resource-efficient for small/medium deployments
  • ⊕ Modular to add needed features

Cons

  • ⊖ Requires basic technical knowledge for setup
  • ⊖ Advanced features need manual module installation
  • ⊖ No built-in GUI (relies on third-party tools for management)

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