Snikket Chat | Simple, secure and private messaging | WarmIndex

Snikket is a privacy-focused, easy-to-use messaging platform for small groups like families and friends, featuring self-hostable open-source servers and dedicated mobile apps based on the decentralized XMPP standard.

🚀 Overview

Snikket delivers the familiar experience of modern messaging apps—text, voice/video calls, groups, media sharing—while keeping everything private, secure, and under your control. Unlike centralized services from big tech that harvest data for ads and tracking, Snikket uses open XMPP standards for decentralization, end-to-end encryption, and federation with other services.

It solves the challenge of finding a trustworthy, feature-complete chat solution without corporate surveillance or complex setup. Users can self-host a server in minutes with Docker or use affordable hosted options.

Snikket is built for small groups such as families, friend circles, clubs, or teams who value privacy and simplicity. We created it to lower the barrier to self-hosted, secure communication, making advanced privacy accessible to non-technical users who just want reliable chat without compromises.

✨ Key Features

End-to-end encryption for all messages, calls, media, and backups using industry-standard protocols
High-quality voice and video calling, fully encrypted
Group messaging with private or public groups, easy creation and discovery
Text chat with live typing indicators and read receipts
Media sharing for photos, videos, and documents
Voice messages (send in two taps) and private location sharing
Multi-device support: sync across phones, tablets, and more
No phone number needed; easy multiple accounts (e.g., family vs. work)
Secure, encrypted backups restorable on new devices
Optional: Bridges to other networks, admin web interface for server management

🛠 Tech Stack

Frontend: Android app (Kotlin/Java based on Conversations), iOS app (Swift based on TigaseSwift), Web admin portal
Backend: Prosody XMPP server with custom Lua modules
Database: Prosody modular storage (internal file-based/SQLite by default)
Containerization: Docker with docker-compose
Auth: XMPP with invite-based onboarding and role management
Hosting: Self-hosted on any VPS/server supporting Docker (e.g., DigitalOcean, Hetzner), or official hosted service

👥 Who Is This For?

This project is useful for:

Families who want a private alternative to WhatsApp or iMessage for coordination and calls
Friend groups and clubs seeking secure group chats without data collection
Privacy-conscious self-hosters tired of configuring raw XMPP

📸 Screenshots / Demo

Live demo: No public demo available; quick self-host setup at https://snikket.org/service/quickstart or try hosted trial at https://snikket.org/hosting/
GitHub: https://github.com/snikket-im

🔥 Project Status

🟢 Actively building

Last updated: 2026-03-24

❓ FAQ

Is this project free?

Open Source (self-hosting is 100% free). Official hosting is paid (~$6/month for small groups, 14-day trial). Donations support development.

(Explain briefly.)

Is the source code available?

Yes — https://github.com/snikket-im (snikket-server for Docker images, snikket-android, snikket-ios, etc.)

Can I contribute?

Yes — report issues or submit PRs on GitHub repos. Share feedback via email (feedback@snikket.org) or fund via https://snikket.org/donate/. See docs for guidelines.

📬 Contact & Links

Built with ❤️ and kept warm on WarmIndex.

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