Best open-source messaging tools, ranked by real installs (Oct 2026)
This week's ranking of self-hosted messaging software: Novu leads. See specs, hourly costs and alternatives.
Choosing messaging software gets easier when someone else has already installed the lot — here is what the numbers say.
The catalog currently carries 6 messaging options. Novu leads on installs, and the rest of the pack is worth a look too.
This week's ranking
| # | App | Category | Installs | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novu Open-source notification infrastructure — email, SMS, push | Messaging | 56 000 | €0.023/hr |
| 2 | Typebot Open-source conversational form & chatbot builder | Messaging | 24 000 | €0.023/hr |
| 3 | TextBee Free self-hosted SMS gateway for Android devices | Messaging | 980 | €0.023/hr |
| 4 | playSMS Full-featured SMS gateway with web interface & API | Messaging | 730 | €0.023/hr |
| 5 | Android SMS Gateway Turn any Android phone into an SMS API server | Messaging | 640 | €0.018/hr |
| 6 | Kalkun Web-based SMS gateway with modem or provider routing | Messaging | 410 | €0.023/hr |
Reading the field
Novu
Teams pick Novu when they need the basics done well. Spec: 1 vCPU, 2 GB RAM, 25 GB disk. Start here if you want the safe pick.
Typebot
Built around its core job, Typebot stays out of your way. Plan for 1 vCPU and 2 GB of RAM. Worth a demo before you commit to the leader.
TextBee
TextBee covers the essentials without demanding a manual. Plan for 1 vCPU and 2 GB of RAM. Newer to the catalog, climbing steadily.
playSMS
PlaySMS covers the essentials without demanding a manual. Plan for 1 vCPU and 2 GB of RAM. Lesser known, often a better fit for smaller teams.
Sizing and cost
You can try any of them for the price of a coffee per day: Pay as you go works out near €0.023 an hour at full spec, and pausing stops the meter. Pick an app above to see its exact sizing.
Generated 2026-10-22 from live catalog data · all guides