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Home/Categories/Communication & Collaboration/Cinny
icon of Cinny

Cinny

Open source alternative to Element and Rocket.Chat

  • 3.9K stars
  • AGPL-3.0
  • Active this week
  • Last commit 2 days ago

Last verified Oct 20, 2026

Secure Matrix conversations with a cleaner, self-hosted web client built for privacy-focused teams and communities.

Visit websiteGitHub3.9K starsDeploy on Hostinger
image of Cinny
TL;DR

Cinny is an open source Matrix chat client focused on a clean, lightweight interface for decentralized communication. It replaces heavier Matrix clients or proprietary team chat apps for users who want encrypted messaging, homeserver choice, and a simpler day-to-day chat experience.

Read the full breakdownHide the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs and the FAQ
who it's for

Who Cinny is for#

Matrix users wanting a cleaner client

Use Cinny when Element feels too heavy and you want a focused Matrix chat experience.

Skip if:

You need every advanced Matrix power-user feature in the client.

Communities using decentralized chat

Use Cinny as a friendly client for members joining rooms across Matrix homeservers.

Skip if:

Your community expects a proprietary all-in-one workspace suite.

Privacy-oriented teams testing Matrix

Use Cinny to make Matrix trials more approachable for non-admin users.

Skip if:

You do not have anyone to manage the homeserver or federation choices.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Decentralized chat can feel harder to adopt when the client is cluttered, slow, or tuned for power users. Teams that want Matrix for ownership and federation still need a chat interface people can understand quickly. Proprietary chat products solve usability, but they also centralize identity, data, and retention policies inside one vendor service.

how Cinny solves it

How it solves it#

Matrix protocol client

Cinny is built for Matrix, so users can connect to decentralized homeservers rather than joining a single vendor-controlled chat network.

Focused chat interface

Existing item copy and product positioning emphasize separated direct messages, organized rooms, themes, and a less cluttered visual experience.

End-to-end encryption support

Cinny is positioned as a secure Matrix client, with encrypted communication depending on Matrix room and homeserver configuration.

AGPL-3.0 deployment review

AGPL-3.0 licensing means teams that host a modified Cinny build should include network-use source obligations in deployment review.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

  • Simpler Matrix adoption pathCinny's main value is making Matrix feel less intimidating for users who want decentralized chat without a heavy interface.
  • Works with homeserver choiceBecause it is a Matrix client, Cinny can fit organizations that run or choose their own homeserver instead of relying on one chat provider.
  • Good privacy-aligned alternativeCinny fits teams that value open source chat clients and protocol-level federation over proprietary workspace messaging.

Trade-offs

  • -Matrix setup is still separateCinny is a client, not the whole collaboration stack. Teams still need a Matrix homeserver and admin practices if they want full ownership.
  • -Fewer enterprise admin features than SlackSlack and Teams offer mature admin, compliance, and app ecosystems. Cinny is better when chat ownership matters more than SaaS administration breadth.
tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages
JavaScriptTypeScript
Frameworks
React
frequently asked

FAQ#

What is Cinny?

Cinny is an open source Matrix chat client for decentralized messaging.

Does Cinny replace a Matrix homeserver?

No. Cinny is the client interface. You still need access to a Matrix homeserver.

Who should use Cinny?

Cinny fits Matrix users and teams that want a cleaner, lighter client for open protocol messaging.

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Hostinger

Run Cinny on your own server

Self-host Cinny on a Hostinger VPS.

Deploy on Hostinger

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