Catodon vs Element
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted social networks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Catodon
Community-driven fork of the Iceshrimp fediverse server
VS
Element
A glossy Matrix client compatible with Synapse
| Feature | Catodon | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Social Networks | Social Networks |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | free |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, one-click |
| GitHub stars | ★ 30 | ★ 13,353 |
| First released | 2023 | 2022 |
| Replaces | — |
Why pick each one
Choose Catodon if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in TypeScript
Choose Element if…
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- One-click install on common self-host platforms
- Mature project with 13.4k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Catodon or Element better?
Element is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Catodon if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Catodon and Element free and open-source?
Yes. Catodon is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Element under free. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Catodon and Element with Docker?
Catodon: yes. Element: yes.