Element Call 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?
Element Call
Encrypted group video calls on Matrix
VS
Element Web
Glossy Matrix client for the web and desktop
| Feature | Element Call | Element Web |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 984 | ★ 13,353 |
| First released | 2022 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Zoom, Google Meet | Slack, Discord, Microsoft Teams |
Why pick each one
Choose Element Call if…
- Strong encryption
- Federated via Matrix
- No app install needed
Frequently asked questions
Is Element Call or Element Web better?
Element Web 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 Element Call and Element Web free and open-source?
Yes. Element Call is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Element Web under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Element Call and Element Web with Docker?
Element Call: yes. Element Web: yes.