Element Call vs Tuwunel
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
Tuwunel
Simple, fast and reliable chat server powered by Matrix based on
| Feature | Element Call | Tuwunel |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 50 MB |
| Deployment | docker | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 984 | ★ 2,407 |
| First released | 2022 | 2025 |
| Replaces | Zoom, Google Meet | Conduit, Dendrite, Synapse |
Why pick each one
Choose Element Call if…
- Strong encryption
- Federated via Matrix
- No app install needed
Choose Tuwunel if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Active community (2.4k GitHub stars)
- Written in Rust
- Tiny footprint — runs in 50 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Element Call or Tuwunel better?
Tuwunel 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 Tuwunel free and open-source?
Yes. Element Call is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Tuwunel under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Element Call and Tuwunel with Docker?
Element Call: yes. Tuwunel: check the project docs for container support.