CoyIM 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?
CoyIM
Secure desktop XMPP client with OTR encryption
VS
Element Web
Glossy Matrix client for the web and desktop
| Feature | CoyIM | Element Web |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 615 | ★ 13,353 |
| First released | 2016 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Skype | Slack, Discord, Microsoft Teams |
Why pick each one
Choose CoyIM if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Go
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is CoyIM 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 CoyIM and Element Web free and open-source?
Yes. CoyIM is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Element Web under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run CoyIM and Element Web with Docker?
CoyIM: check the project docs for container support. Element Web: yes.