specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
provider: Synapse
providerId: synapse
publisherName: Element (New Vector Ltd.) / matrix-org community
serviceCategory: Open-Source Messaging Infrastructure
created: '2026-05-04'
# Provenance stamped 2026-08-11: this artifact was written by the API Evangelist
# bulk sweep dated 2026-05-04, not harvested from the provider. See roadmap#35.
method: generated
modified: '2026-05-05'
reconciled: true
tags:
  - Matrix
  - Open Source
  - Messaging
  - FinOps
  - FOCUS
description: FOCUS-aligned FinOps for Synapse - the software is free (AGPL-3.0) so all cost is operator-borne infrastructure. The billing surface is the operator's underlying compute, database, media storage, and federation egress invoice rather than a Synapse-issued invoice. Element Server Suite is a separately-priced commercial distribution.
sources:
  - https://element-hq.github.io/synapse/latest/
  - https://github.com/element-hq/synapse
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Open-Source (Operator-Hosted)
  billingFrequency: Continuous (Operator Infra)
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
    - Usage
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: Synapse Matrix Homeserver
  ServiceCategory: Open-Source Messaging Infrastructure
  ProviderName: Element / matrix-org
  PublisherName: Element (New Vector Ltd.)
  BillingCurrency: USD
meters:
  - name: monthly_active_users
    description: MAUs on the homeserver - the most useful unit for sizing compute and database load.
    unit: user
    aggregation: max
    dimensions:
      - server
  - name: federation_traffic
    description: Bytes exchanged over federation; drives egress and database growth on busy public rooms.
    unit: GB
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - server
      - peer
  - name: media_storage
    description: Media repository storage (uploads, thumbnails) - persistent storage cost.
    unit: GB-month
    aggregation: max
    dimensions:
      - server
  - name: postgres_storage
    description: Postgres-backing database growth - the dominant operator cost on large deployments.
    unit: GB-month
    aggregation: max
    dimensions:
      - server
  - name: room_event_volume
    description: Persisted room events; drives database write IO and disk consumption.
    unit: event
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - server
      - room
principles:
  - name: Visibility
    description: Synapse exposes Prometheus metrics and an Admin API that surface MAUs, federation traffic, room-event rates, and media storage; pair these with the cloud bill to attribute Synapse-driven cost.
  - name: Allocation
    description: Operators allocate against the homeserver they run; multi-tenant operators can use room-level / appservice-level metrics to apportion infra cost to internal customers.
  - name: Optimization
    description: Tune `ratelimiting` defaults, enable workers to scale federation independently, prune old media, archive old room state, and scope federation reachability to control egress.
  - name: Accountability
    description: The platform team running the Matrix homeserver owns Synapse cost; Element is the commercial counterparty only if ESS is purchased.
maintainers:
  - FN: Kin Lane
    email: kin@apievangelist.com