Dendrite Lite 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.
Element Web
Glossy Matrix client for the web and desktop
| Feature | Dendrite Lite | Element Web |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 73 · Good | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, binary | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 969 | ★ 13,502 |
| First released | 2017 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord | Slack, Discord, Microsoft Teams |
What are Dendrite Lite and Element Web?
Dendrite Lite
A Matrix homeserver implementation in Go designed to be efficient and easy to run for small to medium communities. It speaks the Matrix federation protocol so users can chat across the wider network.
- Matrix federation
- End-to-end encryption
- Lower resource use
- Single binary deployment
Element Web
Element Web is the flagship Matrix client, providing a polished interface for chat, voice, and video over the Matrix protocol. It can be self-hosted alongside a homeserver for a fully owned communication stack.
- Full-featured Matrix client
- End-to-end encryption
- Voice and video calls
- Customizable branding
Dendrite Lite vs Element Web: key differences
Dendrite Lite is written in Go, while Element Web is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Dendrite Lite versus AGPL-3.0 for Element Web. Element Web is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Dendrite Lite. Element Web has the considerably larger community, at 13,502 GitHub stars versus 969.
Why pick each one
Choose Dendrite Lite if…
- Lighter than Synapse
- Open standard protocol
Watch out for
- Some features still maturing
- Smaller deployment base
Choose Element Web if…
- Most mature Matrix client
- Active development
Watch out for
- Heavier than minimal clients
- Best paired with own homeserver
Frequently asked questions
Is Dendrite Lite or Element Web better?
Element Web is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Dendrite Lite if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Dendrite Lite and Element Web free and open-source?
Yes. Dendrite Lite 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 Dendrite Lite and Element Web with Docker?
Dendrite Lite: yes. Element Web: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Dendrite Lite or Element Web?
Element Web has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Dendrite Lite. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.