Conduit vs Element Call
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?
Conduit
Simple, fast and reliable Matrix homeserver in Rust
VS
Element Call
Encrypted group video calls on Matrix
| Feature | Conduit | Element Call |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Rust | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,200 | ★ 984 |
| First released | 2020 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord | Zoom, Google Meet |
Why pick each one
Choose Element Call if…
- Strong encryption
- Federated via Matrix
- No app install needed
Frequently asked questions
Is Conduit or Element Call better?
Conduit is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Element Call if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Conduit and Element Call free and open-source?
Yes. Conduit is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Element Call under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Conduit and Element Call with Docker?
Conduit: yes. Element Call: yes.