What it does
Converse is an open-source web-based XMPP chat client for direct messaging and group conversations. It can run as a full-page app, an embedded component, or an overlay, and its feature list includes multi-user chat rooms, file sharing, OMEMO encryption, and message search and archiving. Organizations can connect it to an existing XMPP server or use a public server that allows registration.
Teams with an XMPP service can use Converse as a browser chat client, either as a full-page application or embedded in a site or intranet. The project describes direct messages and multi-user rooms, and its quickstart explains how to connect the client to an XMPP server over BOSH or WebSocket. This provides flexibility for organizations that want to host the client or integrate it into another site, but deployment and user accounts still depend on the server chosen. No server, Converse instance, or account was configured or tested.
Strengths
- Offers direct messages and multi-user XMPP chat rooms in a browser client.
- Can run as a full-page app, overlay, or embedded component.
- The project describes OMEMO encryption, file sharing, and message archiving.
Watch out for
- Requires an XMPP server or account on a public server; it is not a standalone messaging backend.
- A self-hosted deployment needs an XMPP server and web hosting, with more setup than a managed chat service.
Best for
- Organizations that want to embed XMPP messaging in an existing site or intranet
- Teams using an XMPP server that need a browser client with direct and group chat
Sources
- Converse (Oct 25, 2026)
- Quickstart | Converse (Oct 25, 2026)