Converse.js 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?
Converse.js
Web-based XMPP/Jabber chat client
VS
Element Web
Glossy Matrix client for the web and desktop
| Feature | Converse.js | Element Web |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | MPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,285 | ★ 13,353 |
| First released | 2013 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Slack | Slack, Discord, Microsoft Teams |
Why pick each one
Choose Converse.js if…
- Released under the MPL-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3.3k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is Converse.js 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 Converse.js and Element Web free and open-source?
Yes. Converse.js is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Element Web under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Converse.js and Element Web with Docker?
Converse.js: yes. Element Web: yes.