Element X vs Synapse
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?
Element X
Next-generation fast Matrix client for mobile
VS
Synapse
Reference homeserver for the Matrix network
| Feature | Element X | Synapse |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Swift | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 912 | ★ 4,503 |
| First released | 2022 | 2014 |
| Replaces | WhatsApp, Signal | Slack, Discord, WhatsApp |
Why pick each one
Choose Element X if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Swift
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Element X or Synapse better?
Neither is universally better. Synapse has the larger community, while Element X is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Element X and Synapse free and open-source?
Yes. Element X is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Synapse under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Element X and Synapse with Docker?
Element X: check the project docs for container support. Synapse: yes.