Cinny vs Element X
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Cinny
Simple, elegant and secure Matrix client
VS
Element X
Next-generation fast Matrix client for mobile
| Feature | Cinny | Element X |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Swift |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,826 | ★ 912 |
| First released | 2021 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord | WhatsApp, Signal |
Why pick each one
Choose Element X if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Swift
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Cinny or Element X better?
Neither is universally better. Cinny has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Cinny and Element X free and open-source?
Yes. Cinny is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Element X under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Cinny and Element X with Docker?
Cinny: yes. Element X: check the project docs for container support.