Synapse

The reference Matrix homeserver from Element, written in Python and Rust, for running your own federated chat server.

4.8k stars, 661 forks Python On GitHub since December 2023

Visit website View on GitHub How to run it

What is Synapse?

Synapse is the server side of Matrix, the open standard for interoperable real-time communication. It stores rooms and accounts for your users and federates with other homeservers, so people on your server can talk with anyone on the Matrix network through clients such as Element. Element ships it inside the Element Server Suite, whose free Community edition targets small and mid-sized non-commercial use, while Pro adds commercial features. A standalone install is documented too, including reverse proxy and federation setup.

Good fit if

  • Your organization wants its own chat server that still connects to the wider Matrix network.
  • You need control over where messages are stored for compliance reasons.

Look elsewhere if

  • You want a lighter XMPP-based server: ejabberd.
  • You want a single self-contained team chat app instead of protocol plus client: Zulip.

Before you adopt it

Synapse is available under AGPL-3.0, or alternatively under a commercial license from Element; the repository itself has no paid parts. Element gives support only to subscribers. About twenty people committed in the last three months. Plan for PostgreSQL and a reverse proxy in production.

Drafted with AI from the project's README and repository data, then checked against that data on 31 October 2026. Report a correction

Synapse health: is it still maintained?

88 of 100, actively developed

  • Activity
    302 commits in the last 90 days, the latest on 4 November 2026.
    30 / 30
  • Contributors
    19 people wrote the latest 100 commits; the most active wrote 46% of them.
    17 / 20
  • Releases
    9 releases in the last 12 months; the latest, v1.164.2, on 2 November 2026.
    18 / 20
  • Replies to issues
    Maintainers answered 80% of recent issues, with a median first reply after 16 hours.
    18 / 20
  • Security practices
    No OpenSSF Scorecard for this repository yet, so this part gets a neutral score.
    5 / 10

Read from GitHub on 4 November 2026. How the score works

Synapse license: is it open source?

Synapse uses AGPL-3.0, an open-source license approved by the OSI. The same code is also sold under a commercial license.

  1. December 2023First published on GitHub.
  2. TodayAGPL-3.0.

How to run Synapse yourself

Docker
Dockerfile or compose file in the repository
Compose file
contrib/docker/docker-compose.yml: 2 services (postgres)
Setup effort
2 of 5, judged from the compose file
Kubernetes
No Helm chart in the repository
Desktop and mobile
Builds for Linux, including ARM in GitHub releases
Interface languages
English only

Install instructions: element-hq.github.io or the README on GitHub.

Alternatives to Synapse

  • ElementA glossy Matrix collaboration client for the web. 89 health · AGPL-3.0 · 13.6k stars
  • ZulipZulip server and web application. Open-source team chat that helps teams stay productive and focused. 93 health · Apache-2.0 · 26.2k stars
  • Rocket.ChatThe Secure CommsOS™ for mission-critical operations 82 health · MIT · 46.4k stars
  • MumbleMumble is an open-source, low-latency, high quality voice chat software. 82 health · BSD · 8.4k stars
  • ejabberdRobust, Ubiquitous and Massively Scalable Messaging Platform (XMPP, MQTT, SIP Server) 80 health · GPL-2.0 · 6.7k stars

All 12 projects in Team chat

Questions about Synapse

Is Synapse open source?

Yes. Synapse is published under AGPL-3.0, an OSI-approved open-source license.

Is Synapse still maintained?

Its health score is 88 of 100 (actively developed). It had 302 commits in the last 90 days, the latest on 4 November 2026, and its latest release came out on 2 November 2026.

How do I run Synapse?

You can run it with Docker, as an app for Linux, including ARM. The README on GitHub has the exact steps.

What are the alternatives to Synapse?

Close alternatives in the Team chat category include Element, Zulip, Rocket.Chat.