Cinny — Self-Hosted Matrix Client for Encrypted Chat

Introduction

Cinny is an open-source Matrix client designed for simplicity and usability. It provides a Discord-like chat interface on top of the decentralized Matrix protocol, supporting end-to-end encryption, spaces, and rich media out of the box.

What Cinny Does

• Connects to any Matrix homeserver with a modern, responsive web UI
• Supports end-to-end encrypted messaging via the Matrix SDK
• Organizes conversations with Spaces, rooms, and direct messages
• Renders rich content including markdown, code blocks, and media embeds
• Provides custom themes and appearance settings for personalization

Architecture Overview

Cinny is a single-page React application that communicates directly with a Matrix homeserver via the Client-Server API. It uses the matrix-js-sdk for protocol handling and olm/megolm for end-to-end encryption. The app can be served as static files from any web server or container, with no backend of its own.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Deploy via Docker with ajbura/cinny or build from source using Node.js
• Configure the default homeserver URL in config.json before deployment
• Serve behind a reverse proxy (Nginx, Caddy) with TLS for production use
• Set Content-Security-Policy headers to restrict resource loading
• Supports Progressive Web App (PWA) installation for mobile-like access

Key Features

• Clean, Discord-inspired UI that lowers the barrier to Matrix adoption
• Full end-to-end encryption support with device verification flows
• Spaces support for organizing rooms into categories and communities
• Cross-signing and session management for multi-device users
• Lightweight static deployment with no server-side dependencies

Comparison with Similar Tools

• Element — feature-complete but heavier; Cinny offers a simpler, faster interface
• FluffyChat — mobile-focused with Flutter; Cinny targets the web primarily
• Hydrogen — minimal and experimental; Cinny is more feature-rich for daily use
• Nheko — native desktop Qt app; Cinny runs in any browser
• SchildiChat — Element fork with layout tweaks; Cinny is built from scratch

FAQ

Q: Does Cinny require its own Matrix server? A: No. Cinny connects to any existing Matrix homeserver such as Synapse or Dendrite.

Q: Is end-to-end encryption enabled by default? A: E2EE is supported and can be enabled per room. Cinny follows the Matrix protocol defaults.

Q: Can I use Cinny on mobile devices? A: Yes. Cinny is a responsive web app and can be installed as a PWA on mobile browsers.

Q: How do I update a Docker deployment? A: Pull the latest image with docker pull ajbura/cinny:latest and restart the container.

Sources

• https://github.com/cinnyapp/cinny
• https://cinny.in