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Snikket Review

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Should I use Snikket?

Free, open source self-hosted chat server in a box - snikket.org

· 2 days ago

Privacy-focused teams that already run a server get a free, well-maintained chat tool with encrypted calls. Teams wanting a Slack or Discord replacement, or vendor support, do not.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 19 public sources: official docs, 4 security posts, and 6 community threads.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support quality
  • Security posture

Pricing

Free

Self-hosted

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
Snikket HostingNot listed in sources

Best for

  • Privacy-first teams
  • Self-hosters wanting easy XMPP
  • Small groups owning their data
  • Communities wary of big-tech chat

Not for

  • Teams needing a Slack or Discord clone
  • Buyers without a server or DNS control
  • Companies wanting vendor support and SLAs
  • Non-technical groups wanting zero admin work

Gotchas - check before you buy

medium

Hosted instance pricing is not listed in public sources. Ask Snikket before budgeting.

medium

Moving your server between hosts is manual. Plan the migration and test restores.

medium

No vendor SLA. Support comes from a donation-funded team and community channels.

low

Android app was temporarily removed from Google Play in April 2024. Distribution hiccups happen.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Free, open source chat server you fully control
  • Preconfigured server in a box makes XMPP setup simple
  • Encrypted chat with voice and video calls
  • Actively developed, November 2025 release shipped
  • Native apps on iOS and Android

Cons

  • Not designed to replace Slack or Discord
  • You must run and maintain your own server and DNS
  • Donation-funded project, no vendor support guarantee
  • Android app was pulled from Google Play in 2024

Sources & method

- 19 sources - security policy, E2EE by default, fast patch releases. Not affected by the 2024 xz backdoor (CVE-2024-3094).

official x8review x6security x4news x1
  • Server flaw patched in January 2022 release, Snikket shipped a fix for a server flaw on 13 January 2022.
  • F-Droid security update, December 2022, Android users who installed from F-Droid needed a security update.

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • Free

    Starting price

  • 19

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. Free open source; hosted plan costs extra
  • Ease of use: 4/5. Server in a box, but needs DNS setup
  • Feature depth: 3/5. Chat, calls, E2EE; skips Slack-style features
  • Support quality: 2/5. Donation-funded team, community channels only
  • Security posture: 4/5. E2EE, public policy, fast patches, one 2022 flaw
  • Free Price Open source, self-hosted
  • Yes Free tier Hosted plan exists, price not public
  • Nov 2025 Latest release Regular server updates since 2020
  • Donations + NGI Funding EU NGI/DAPSI backed, donation funded

Pricing

Self-hosted

Free

  • Full open source server on your hardware
  • IOS and Android apps included

Snikket Hosting

Not listed in sources

  • Managed instance run by Snikket
  • Contact Snikket for current pricing

Security

security policy, E2EE by default, fast patch releases.

  • Server flaw patched in January 2022 releaseSnikket shipped a fix for a server flaw on 13 January 2022.⁹
  • F-Droid security update, December 2022Android users who installed from F-Droid needed a security update.10

Not affected by the 2024 xz backdoor (CVE-2024-3094).

What users say

Self-hosters praise Snikket as an easy XMPP entry point but question it as a full Discord or Slack replacement.

“I see Snikket as kind of a gateway into the XMPP ecosyst...”
Hacker News
“Snikket is aimed at people who primarily just want an ou...”
Hacker News
“A month using XMPP (using Snikket) for every call and chat...”
Hacker News

Alternatives

Compare Snikket with each alternative.

  • Signal

    Private messaging without running any server

  • Element (Matrix)

    Self-hosted chat with a bigger federation ecosystem

  • Rocket.Chat

    Slack-like self-hosted team chat with paid support

    Snikket vs Rocket.Chat
Full analysis

Based on 19 public sources: official docs, 4 security posts, and 6 community threads.

Free self-hosted chat server for privacy-minded teams. Not a Slack clone. You need a server, DNS skills, and admin patience.

Methodology

Based on 19 public sources: official docs, 4 security posts, and 6 community threads.

Read how a report is made.

Sources

  1. Snikket Server READMEgithub.com
    official
  2. Snikket Hostingsnikket.org
    official
  3. Snikket Goalssnikket.org
    official
  4. Snikket Server November 2025 releasesnikket.org
    official
  5. State of Snikket 2023: Fundingsnikket.org
    official
  6. Snikket FAQsnikket.org
    official
  7. Snikket on XMPP.orgxmpp.org
    official
  8. Snikket security pagesnikket.org
    security
  9. January 2022 security releasesnikket.org
    security
  10. F-Droid security updatesnikket.org
    security
  11. Not affected by CVE-2024-3094snikket.org
    security
  12. Google Play removalsnikket.org
    news
  13. Hacker News: Snikket as an XMPP gatewaynews.ycombinator.com
    review
  14. Hacker News: Snikket fills the gapnews.ycombinator.com
    review
  15. Cloudron forum: Snikket server in a boxforum.cloudron.io
    review
  16. Reddit: Snikket vs Discordreddit.com
    review
  17. NixOS: Self-host E2EE messenger with callsdev.to
    review
  18. Snikket on the Apple App Storeapps.apple.com
    review
  19. Snikket at NGIngi.eu
    official

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