Ergo
Modern IRCv3 server written in Go, combining the features of an ircd, a services framework, and a bouncer.
Ergo vs InspIRCd
Two self-hosted Communication - IRC apps, compared on the facts we track: GitHub popularity and activity, license, language, Docker images and a rough hosting estimate.
Side by side
| Ergo | InspIRCd | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Modern IRCv3 server written in Go, combining the features of an ircd, a services framework, and a bouncer. | Modular IRC server written in C++ for Linux, BSD, Windows, and macOS. |
| GitHub stars | 3,359 | 1,362 |
| Forks | – | – |
| Open issues | – | – |
| Commits (12 months) | 167 | 288 |
| Last activity | 2026-11-09 | 2026-11-09 |
| Latest release | v2.19.1 (2026-08-05) | v4.12.1 (2026-09-26) |
| Maintenance health | Active | Active |
| License | MIT | GPL-2.0 |
| Language / platform | Go, Docker | C++, Docker |
| Docker Hub image | ergochat/ergo | – |
| Docker pulls | 1423.7k | – |
| Est. server size | ~512 MB, 1 vCPU | ~512 MB, 1 vCPU |
| Est. hosting from | $3.5/mo | $3.5/mo |
| Categories | Communication - IRC | Communication - IRC |
| Links | Website · Source | Website · Source |
What the numbers say
- Ergo is more popular on GitHub: 3.4k stars vs 1.4k for InspIRCd.
- InspIRCd had more commits in the last 12 months (288 vs 167).
- InspIRCd published a release more recently (v4.12.1 on 2026-09-26; Ergo's latest is v2.19.1 on 2026-08-05).
- Ergo is licensed under MIT, InspIRCd under GPL-2.0. Ergo's license is permissive; InspIRCd's is copyleft (changes you distribute must stay open).
- Ergo is written in Go; InspIRCd in C++.
- Deployment options listed upstream: Ergo: Docker; InspIRCd: Docker.
- Only Ergo has a Docker Hub image that we detected (ergochat/ergo).
Summary: Ergo leads on GitHub popularity and Docker Hub availability; InspIRCd leads on commit activity. The right choice depends on the features you need — read both project descriptions and docs.
This summary is generated from GitHub, Docker Hub and awesome-selfhosted data as of 2026-11-15. It does not rate features or quality.
Get the Docker images
Ergo
docker pull ergochat/ergoImage on Docker Hub. Ports, volumes and environment variables differ per app; follow the official docs.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ergo or InspIRCd more popular?
Ergo has more GitHub stars (3,359 vs 1,362 for InspIRCd, as of 2026-11-15). Stars measure interest, not quality.
Which is more actively maintained, Ergo or InspIRCd?
InspIRCd had more commits over the last 12 months (288 vs 167). Both had repository activity on 2026-11-09. Releases in the past year: Ergo 7, InspIRCd 10+. Our health labels: Ergo is “Active”, InspIRCd is “Active”.
What licenses do Ergo and InspIRCd use?
Ergo: MIT. InspIRCd: GPL-2.0. Ergo's license is permissive; InspIRCd's is copyleft (changes you distribute must stay open).
Can I run Ergo and InspIRCd with Docker?
Ergo has a Docker Hub image (ergochat/ergo). We did not find one for InspIRCd, though the upstream listing mentions Docker as a deployment option.
Read more
InspIRCd
Modular IRC server written in C++ for Linux, BSD, Windows, and macOS.
Browse all self-hosted Communication - IRC apps.