Tinode
Open-source instant messaging platform built mobile-first
Founded
2014
Starting Price
Free
Category
Communication
Last updated April 27, 2026
About Tinode
Tinode is an open-source, self-hostable instant messaging platform designed as a modern, privacy-respecting alternative to WhatsApp or Telegram. Built with a Go backend that scales horizontally via clustering, it features one-on-one and group messaging, video/voice calling, native iOS/Android/web clients, and a pluggable architecture supporting custom auth, chatbots, and multiple database backends. Available self-hosted or as managed cloud hosting.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Fully self-hostable with complete data ownership under GPL-3.0 license
- Multi-platform native SDKs for iOS, Android, web, CLI, and gRPC
- Scalable Go backend designed for horizontal clustering
- Rich feature parity with consumer apps including video calls and voice messages
- Extensible plugin system supporting chatbots, custom auth, and multiple databases
Key Features
One-on-One & Group Messaging
Full messaging with editing, forwarding, replying, and pinning support
Video & Voice Calling
Built-in video and voice calls with concurrent in-call messaging
Cross-Device Sync
Native clients for web (ReactJS), iOS (Swift), Android (Java), and CLI
Scalable Go Backend
Horizontal clustering with secure WebSocket transport for large deployments
Pluggable Architecture
Custom auth backends, database adapters for MySQL/PostgreSQL/MongoDB, and gRPC chatbot API
White-Label Mobile Apps
Custom-branded iOS and Android apps on Professional and Cloud tiers
Granular Access Control
Per-topic permissions, server-side blocking, and anonymous user support
Rich Media Support
Pricing
Basic (Self-Hosted)
Free
- Full server (GPL-3.0)
- Community support
- Push notifications
- Production monitoring
Professional
$500/year
Best For
Internal Team Communication
Self-hosted alternative to Slack or Teams for privacy-conscious companies and regulated industries
Embedded In-App Chat
White-label messaging layer for SaaS products, marketplaces, or mobile apps via gRPC API
Customer Support Chat
Anonymous user support enables tech support flows without requiring user accounts
Private Community Messaging
Free self-hosted deployment for organizations wanting a private messaging platform
