Chat Client Discussion

XMPP

Well, first of all, XMPP isn't a client, platform or similar BUT a protocol (and the same applies with IRC), which means anyone can make their own clients and servers based on their specifications and standards instead of being centralized.

XMPP (previously Jabber) is a IM protocol created in 1999 and based on XML which works on a federated way which means you can send messages with other users from other servers (similar to how email works) and it also has encryption for messages between clients. Yeah you can think it's similar to Matrix too but without being so fucking bloated and confusing.

Using it isn't complicated, just find a "XMPP provider" or if you've a VPS or a self-host server in your home install Prosody and host your own XMPP server, find a XMPP client and create an account from your provider server and there you go.
When you log in for first time, you'll notice a "/" after your JID (Jabber ID), and that means the "tag" of the computer where you're currently logged in or your current session (e.g. [email protected]/DESKTOP). Isn't that important but I wanted to keep that in mind for newcomers.

For clients, unfortunately most of them doesn't look decent at all and many of them are abandoned or with weird UIs, but the one I use a lot is Psi+ (a fork from the now kinda-abandoned Psi), which has that old-school IM client look and is very lightweight, and monocles chat on my Android phone, which has an aspect similar to WhatsApp/Telegram (which I hate) but looks good and has some cool features. If you want something almost similar to Discord and easy to use there's Converse (which also has their own XMPP provider service) and Gajim but I honestly don't like them.

As for me, I've been using XMPP since 2021, but I stopped using it out of boredom and lack of interest. In 2023 I wanted to use it again but this time with my own server, and I ended up getting bored of it once again until late 2025, when I decided to return using it but this time for real and even more after the Discord scandal with their shitty "age" verification crap. And yeah I'm also with my own (private) XMPP server which I improved it to use a MySQL database for the users instead of using an annoying local DB file which makes me confusing when I have to start making server backups.
I know isn't perfect and it doesn't have modern features and it seems more like if someone merged IRC with the structure of an average 2000s IM software but to me it looks good to use it as an lightweight alternative and if you want something classic, minimalist and without being centralized.

I like how old school it looks, I've never heard of it until now. Looks like I've got another alternative to give a shot sometime, thanks for sharing this!