Ergo
Modern IRCv3 server written in Go, combining the features of an ircd, a services framework, and a bouncer.
Ergo vs ZNC
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 | ZNC | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Modern IRCv3 server written in Go, combining the features of an ircd, a services framework, and a bouncer. | Advanced IRC bouncer. |
| GitHub stars | 3,359 | 2,129 |
| Forks | – | – |
| Open issues | – | – |
| Commits (12 months) | 167 | 182 |
| Last activity | 2026-11-09 | 2026-11-08 |
| Latest release | v2.19.1 (2026-08-05) | – |
| Maintenance health | Active | Active |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language / platform | Go, Docker | C++, deb |
| 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 2.1k for ZNC.
- Ergo publishes GitHub releases (latest v2.19.1); no GitHub release was found for ZNC.
- Ergo is licensed under MIT, ZNC under Apache-2.0.
- Ergo is written in Go; ZNC in C++.
- Deployment options listed upstream: Ergo: Docker; ZNC: deb.
- Only Ergo has a Docker Hub image that we detected (ergochat/ergo).
Summary: Ergo leads on GitHub popularity and Docker Hub availability. 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 ZNC more popular?
Ergo has more GitHub stars (3,359 vs 2,129 for ZNC, as of 2026-11-15). Stars measure interest, not quality.
Which is more actively maintained, Ergo or ZNC?
Commits in the last 12 months: Ergo 167, ZNC 182. The last recorded activity was 2026-11-09 for Ergo and 2026-11-08 for ZNC. Our health labels: Ergo is “Active”, ZNC is “Active”.
What licenses do Ergo and ZNC use?
Ergo: MIT. ZNC: Apache-2.0.
Can I run Ergo and ZNC with Docker?
Ergo has a Docker Hub image (ergochat/ergo). We did not find one for ZNC; check its documentation for install options.
Read more
ZNC
Advanced IRC bouncer.
Browse all self-hosted Communication - IRC apps.