Sliding Sync Proxy 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.
Not the right match-up?
Sliding Sync Proxy
Standalone sync proxy enabling fast Matrix clients
VS
Element Web
Glossy Matrix client for the web and desktop
| Feature | Sliding Sync Proxy | Element Web |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 282 | ★ 13,353 |
| First released | 2022 | 2016 |
| Replaces | — | Slack, Discord, Microsoft Teams |
Why pick each one
Choose Sliding Sync Proxy if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Go
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Sliding Sync Proxy or Element Web better?
Element Web is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Sliding Sync Proxy if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Sliding Sync Proxy and Element Web free and open-source?
Yes. Sliding Sync Proxy is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Element Web under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Sliding Sync Proxy and Element Web with Docker?
Sliding Sync Proxy: yes. Element Web: yes.