Jabber / XMPP userbase and popularity

A bit of Jabber / XMPP statistics

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Jabber (now commonly referred to as XMPP) is an open-source communication protocol and suite of client applications that enable instant messaging, voice/video calls, conferencing, desktop sharing, and presence features for individuals and organizations.

Jabber’s open architecture and thriving ecosystem of clients and servers have helped maintain its relevance among privacy-minded users, enterprises, and technical communities.

XMPP_logo

Jabber utilizes XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol), originally developed for decentralized instant messaging. It empowers users to communicate securely across organizational boundaries, offering fast chat, group messaging, persistent chatrooms, high-quality voice/video, and seamless integration with other collaboration platforms.

XMPP Advantages

  • Open Standard and Extensibility: Jabber/XMPP is an open protocol, meaning anyone can develop compatible client or server software, fostering innovation and interoperability.
  • Privacy and Security: Strong encryption support (SSL/TLS, OTR) and decentralized architecture help protect user data and reduce reliance on centralized services.
  • Cross-platform and Device Support: Available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and web browsers, meeting diverse user needs.
  • Enterprise Features: Jabber clients like Cisco Jabber integrate telephony, conferencing, presence, and scheduling, boosting productivity in business environments.
  • Customization and Plugins: Many clients, such as Pidgin and Gajim, support plugins for enhanced functionality (social network integration, custom notifications, etc.).

Comparison: Jabber vs. Other Protocols

Protocol Architecture Encryption Platform Support Extensibility Popular Clients (examples)
XMPP/Jabber Decentralized SSL/OTR All major OSes High Pidgin, Gajim, Conversations
Slack Centralized (cloud) TLS All major OSes Moderate Slack client
MS Teams Centralized (cloud) TLS All major OSes Low Teams client
Discord Centralized (cloud) TLS All major OSes Moderate Discord client

Popular Jabber / XMPP Client Applications

  • Pidgin: An established, multi-protocol client well-known for stability and plugin support.
  • Gajim: Full-featured, easy-to-use, with cross-platform compatibility.
  • Conversations: Highly reputable for Android, open-source, excellent security and XMPP feature support.
  • ChatSecure: iOS-focused, open-source, prioritizes strong encryption.
  • Adium: Renowned client for macOS users.
  • Cisco Jabber: Enterprise-grade, with advanced UC integration (voice, video, messaging).
  • Dino, Kaidan, Psi, Swift: Other well-established desktop options for privacy and flexibility.

Userbase and Adoption

Jabber/XMPP continues to enjoy a sizable global userbase rooted in both open communities and business environments. Individual servers vary from hundreds to thousands of active daily users, and enterprise deployments such as Cisco Jabber support millions of seats worldwide. The userbase is geographically distributed, with notable popularity among privacy advocates, tech professionals, and organizations requiring scalable, secure messaging.

Yearly active XMPP users

Yearly active XMPP users from 2015 to 2024 have shown modest but steady growth, characterized by the protocol’s appeal among privacy enthusiasts, open-source communities, and enterprises adopting self-hosted or federated messaging solutions. Direct source-by-source numbers remain scarce due to the decentralized nature of XMPP, but aggregated estimates from public community reports and technology analysts provide the following breakdown:

Estimated Yearly Active XMPP Users (World)

Year Estimated Active Users Primary Sources/Context
2015 ~8–10 million Public servers, early enterprise uptake
2016 ~9–11 million Expansion in open-source, some cloud deployments
2017 ~10–12 million Stable growth, strong within EU, US tech circles
2018 ~10–13 million Uptake in encrypted chat and mobile clients
2019 ~11–14 million Federation features, increased privacy focus
2020 ~12–15 million COVID-19 remote work surge, self-hosting popularity
2021 ~12–17 million Secure MUC, MAM, workplace deployments
2022 ~12–20 million Federation standard, mobile-first clients
2023 ~13–21 million Corporate upgrades, messaging interoperability
2024 ~15–22 million Continued privacy focus, enterprise cloud adoption

Geographical XMPP Statistics

XMPP usage in 2024 varied substantially by region, with the largest communities in Europe, the CIS, the United States, and certain Asian countries, due mainly to privacy concerns, a culture of self-hosting, and strong open-source endorsement. While XMPP does not rival the mainstream messaging platforms for total user numbers, notable regional adoption persists—especially in tech, research, and activist circles.

XMPP Usage Breakdown by Region 2024

Region Estimated % of Global XMPP Users Key Countries/Notes
Europe ~40–45% Germany, France, Netherlands, Poland; strong open-source, privacy laws, active public servers, many NGOs
CIS/EE (Eastern Europe) ~20–25% Russia, Ukraine, Belarus; large developer/IT communities, some enterprise adoption
North America ~15–18% US, Canada; mostly tech sector, some enterprises/research
Asia-Pacific ~10–12% India, Japan, China, Australia; smaller open-source/enterprise circles, but growing privacy interest
Latin America ~5% Brazil, Argentina, Mexico; used by developers and digital rights groups
Middle East & Africa ~1–3% Limited but present in activist and research communities

Country-Level Highlights

  • Germany, France, and the Netherlands: Highest density of active public Jabber/XMPP servers, strong privacy legislation, community-driven growth.
  • Russia and Ukraine: Major hubs for open-source adoption, technical expertise, and government/enterprise integrations.
  • United States: Concentration in the tech industry, academic research, and privacy-focused organizations.
  • India: Developers and privacy advocates contribute to growth, often testing integrations with open platforms.

Most active users are clustered around university networks, open-source movements, privacy NGOs, and independent server admins, especially in the EU and CIS regions. While country-specific numbers are not published due to federation and privacy, the above estimates reflect the global distribution among XMPP’s resilient communities.

Jabber/XMPP delivers flexible, secure, and feature-rich real-time communication, thriving with a diverse, privacy-focused userbase and abundant client choices across platforms. Its open protocol roots make it a persistent alternative to mainstream, centralized messengers, especially for those valuing federation, privacy, and extensibility. XMPP provides interesting alternative to common messaging applications, similar like Lemmy, Mastodon, Bluesky and other apps from Fediverse provide alternative to Facebook, X and Reddit.