Element Call vs Profanity
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
Profanity
Console-based XMPP client inspired by irssi
| Feature | Element Call | Profanity |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | C |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | docker | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 984 | ★ 1,530 |
| First released | 2022 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Zoom, Google Meet | Slack |
Why pick each one
Choose Element Call if…
- Strong encryption
- Federated via Matrix
- No app install needed
Choose Profanity if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Active community (1.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in C
- Tiny footprint — runs in 32 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Element Call or Profanity better?
Profanity is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Element Call if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Element Call and Profanity free and open-source?
Yes. Element Call is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Profanity under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Element Call and Profanity with Docker?
Element Call: yes. Profanity: check the project docs for container support.