Hermes 4 vs Mystic BBS & Synchronet
Mystic BBS and Synchronet are respected, mature, free platforms with long track records and devoted communities. This page compares them honestly with Hermes 4 — not to disparage two excellent projects, but to help you choose the right BBS for your situation.
The short version: if you run a Mac and want a BBS that feels native to the platform — a real SwiftUI app, a native iOS client, Apple Silicon performance, and a browser-ready web terminal — that's what Hermes 4 is built for.
Two excellent BBS platforms
Mystic BBS
by James Coyle (g00r00) · since 1997
Written in FreePascal. A single binary, zero dependencies. Runs on Windows, Linux (x86 and ARM), and macOS Intel. Free alpha releases. Renowned for its all-in-one approach: nine integrated protocols, a complete FidoNet 5D stack, and dual scripting in MPL and Python. The standard DOOR32.SYS drop-file format was co-created by Mystic's author.
Current: v1.12 Alpha 48 (Jan 2023). Closed source. No Apple Silicon support.
Synchronet BBS
by Rob Swindell · since 1992 · open-sourced 1999
Written in C/C++. Runs on Windows, Linux, and BSD. Continuously developed for 30+ years — one of the longest-running active BBS projects. Features a full embedded SpiderMonkey JavaScript engine that powers everything from its IRC server to NNTP implementation. Pioneered QWK offline mail (1992) and RIP graphics (1993). Actively developed, open source (GPL).
Current: v3.20d (Mar 2025). GPL licensed. No macOS server; no mobile app.
Side by side
Every row below was verified against current Hermes 4 source code and plans. Gaps are listed honestly.
| Feature | Hermes 4 | Mystic BBS | Synchronet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform & Availability | |||
| Server platform | macOSApple Silicon · Intel | Win / Linux / ARM / macOS Intel | Windows / Linux / BSD |
| iOS & iPhone / iPad app | Yes — native SwiftUIiPhone + iPad (Mac Catalyst) | No | No |
| Apple Silicon native | Yes | NoIntel only on macOS | No macOS server |
| Cost | Free beta | Free alpha | Free / open source (GPL) |
| Open source | No | No | YesGPL licensed |
| Connectivity & Protocols | |||
| Telnet | Yesport 2300 | Yes (up to 250 nodes) | Yes (up to 250 nodes) |
| Telnet over TLS (TELNETS) | Yesport 2301 · TLS before IAC | No | No |
| SSH | Yesport 2304 · SwiftNIO · Ed25519 · auto-login | Yes (built-in) | Yes (built-in) |
| Browser / WebSocket terminal | Yes — wss, no installxterm.js · served from port 2302 | No | PartialfTelnet browser embed (not native wss) |
| HTTPS server | Yesport 2302 · file xfers + web terminal | Yes (pages + files) | Yes (SSJS dynamic pages) |
| RLogin | No | Yes | Yes |
| FTP server | NoHTTPS transfers are the modern equivalent | Yes | Yes |
| NNTP (Usenet) | No | Yes | Yes |
| IPv6 | Not yet | Yes | Yes |
| File Sharing | |||
| HTTPS file transfers | Yes — HMAC-signed, time-limited URLsnative progress in Hermes Terminal; browser fallback for Telnet clients | No dedicated system | No dedicated system |
| ZMODEM | Yes (+ auto-detect) | Yes | Yes |
| File sharing in chat | Yes/share command · HTTPS token · inline in chat history | No | No |
| Archive viewing (ZIP/RAR) | No | Yesnested archive navigation | Yes |
| Messaging & Forums | |||
| Hierarchical forums | YesConferences → Subforums | YesGroups → Bases | YesGroups → Sub-boards |
| Message threading | YesH/L/W navigation · thread walk | Yes (full tree) | Yes |
| Full-text search | Yes — FTS5Gmail-style operators (from: to: subject: has:attachment) | Yes (keyword) | Yes |
| Internet email | Yesinbound via Cloudflare Email Routing · outbound via Amazon SES · MIME attachments | Yes (full SMTP/POP3) | Yes (SMTP/POP3) |
| Voting / polls | Yessingle/multi-choice · ASCII bar chart · anonymous option · expiry dates | Yes | Yes |
| QWK offline mail | No | Yes (+ FTP networking) | Yespioneered in 1992 |
| FidoNet / echomail | No (deferred) | Yesfull 5D stack built-in, no external mailer | Yesvia SBBSecho + external mailer |
| Chat & Real-Time | |||
| Multi-channel chat | Yespersistent history · last 20 msgs backfilled on join | Yes (IRC-like) | Yes |
| Persistent direct messages | Yes — Discord-style DMsprivate channels · backfill · persistent across sessions | No | No |
| AI chat bots | Yes — Grok-poweredconfigurable personalities · channel assignment · rate controls | Community add-onMRC integration | Basic (JS-scripted) |
| Link previews in chat | YesOpen Graph · YouTube · X/Twitter via fxtwitter API | No | No |
| Typing indicators | Yes | No | No |
| Inter-BBS chat federation | No | YesMRC community relay | Yesbuilt-in IRC server |
| Door Games & External Programs | |||
| 68K Mac externals | Yes — 45+ tested on Apple SiliconMusashi 68K CPU emulator · original Hermes games from 1988–1995 | N/A | N/A |
| x86 / DOS door emulation | YesLORD, Pimp Wars confirmed · Trade Wars parked | YesFOSSIL driver | YesDOSEMU |
| DOOR32.SYS native doors | YesUsurper Reborn + any DOOR32 door | Yesco-created the standard | Yes12 drop-file formats |
| Sysop Administration | |||
| Sysop dashboard | Native SwiftUI applive sessions · country flags · ANSI preview · user management · chat panel | ANSI-basedno graphical GUI | Windows GUI (SBBSCTRL)Windows only |
| Scripting / extensibility | None — menus are compiled Swift | MPL + Python~140 configurable menu commands | SpiderMonkey JavaScriptentire services implemented in JS |
| Theme / menu customization | None | YesMCI codes · multi-language support | Yes@-codes · shells |
| Geo-IP + CIDR blocklists | Yescountry checkbox + CIDR notation · live log with flags | Yes (geolocation) | Yes |
| Account expiration | No | Yeswith auto-downgrade | Yes |
| Localization | Yes — 5 languagesEnglish · Italian · Spanish · French · German · per-user on the wire | Yes (MCI multi-lang) | Partial |
Table reflects Hermes 4 v0.1.0 and publicly documented capabilities of Mystic BBS v1.12a48 and Synchronet v3.20d. Competitor information sourced from their official documentation.
Which one is right for you?
Choose Hermes 4 if…
- ▸ You run macOS and want your server to be a native Mac application — not a Linux port running in a Terminal window
- ▸ You want users to connect from any web browser with no client software to install — Hermes 4's WebSocket terminal works out of the box
- ▸ You plan to run original Hermes external programs from the 1988–1995 era — the 68K emulator runs them on Apple Silicon hardware
- ▸ You want iPhone and iPad access for your users, with a native SwiftUI client rather than a generic Telnet app
- ▸ You prefer a polished out-of-the-box configuration over a deeply customizable scripting engine — Hermes 4 is opinionated by design
- ▸ You want AI chat bots that feel like living community members, with configurable Grok-powered personalities and rate controls
Mystic or Synchronet may fit better if…
- ▸ You run Linux, Windows, or need to host on a cloud VPS — Hermes 4 requires macOS hardware (or a Mac mini / Mac Studio)
- ▸ FidoNet or echomail integration is important to you — Mystic has a complete built-in 5D stack; Synchronet uses SBBSecho
- ▸ You rely on QWK offline readers — Mystic and Synchronet both have mature QWK networking; Hermes 4 has none yet
- ▸ Deep menu, theme, and BBS flow customization through scripting is a requirement — Hermes 4's menus are compiled Swift with no scripting layer
- ▸ You need open source software with an established 30-year track record — Synchronet (GPL) fits that profile well
- ▸ Your existing door game setup is built around FOSSIL drivers or DOSEMU on Linux — Hermes 4's x86 emulation is new and covers a narrower set of games
A note on maturity: Mystic BBS has been in free alpha development since 1997 with thousands of boards worldwide. Synchronet has been continuously improved for over 30 years. Hermes 4 is version 0.1.0 — functional and actively developed, but early. If production stability is your primary concern, the alternatives have more history behind them. Hermes 4 is a passion project and a technical revival, and it earns its place on Apple hardware by being genuinely native to it.
The Mac-native BBS.
Free beta, no strings.
Download the Hermes Server and Hermes Terminal beta for macOS, or join the iOS TestFlight. No fee — it's a passion project and a technical revival.