Element Call vs Jami
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Element Call
Encrypted group video calls on Matrix
VS
Jami
Fully distributed, peer-to-peer encrypted communication
| Feature | Element Call | Jami |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Chat & Communication |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 984 | ★ 41 |
| First released | 2022 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Zoom, Google Meet | Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp |
Why pick each one
Choose Element Call if…
- Strong encryption
- Federated via Matrix
- No app install needed
Frequently asked questions
Is Element Call or Jami better?
Neither is universally better. Element Call has the larger community, while Jami is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Element Call and Jami free and open-source?
Yes. Element Call is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Jami under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Element Call and Jami with Docker?
Element Call: yes. Jami: check the project docs for container support.