Commet vs Element Web
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Element Web
Glossy Matrix client for the web and desktop
| Feature | Commet | Element Web |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Dart | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 100 | ★ 13,495 |
| First released | 2022 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Discord, Slack | Slack, Discord, Microsoft Teams |
What are Commet and Element Web?
Commet
Commet is a Matrix chat client that targets desktop and mobile from a single Flutter codebase. It aims for a familiar messaging experience with support for spaces and end-to-end encryption.
- Flutter cross-platform client
- Spaces support
- End-to-end encryption
- Desktop and mobile
Element Web
Element Web is the flagship Matrix client, providing a polished interface for chat, voice, and video over the Matrix protocol. It can be self-hosted alongside a homeserver for a fully owned communication stack.
- Full-featured Matrix client
- End-to-end encryption
- Voice and video calls
- Customizable branding
Commet vs Element Web: key differences
Commet is written in Dart, while Element Web is built with TypeScript. Element Web is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Commet. Element Web is the more established project (first released 2016), while Commet arrived in 2022. Element Web has the considerably larger community, at 13,495 GitHub stars versus 100. Element Web lists first-class Docker deployment; Commet does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Commet if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Dart
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Choose Element Web if…
- Most mature Matrix client
- Active development
Watch out for
- Heavier than minimal clients
- Best paired with own homeserver
Frequently asked questions
Is Commet or Element Web better?
Neither is universally better. Element Web has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Commet and Element Web free and open-source?
Yes. Commet is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Element Web under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Commet and Element Web with Docker?
Commet: check the project docs for container support. Element Web: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Commet or Element Web?
Element Web has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Commet. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.