Element Call vs Openfire
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
Openfire
Real-time collaboration XMPP server written in Java
| Feature | Element Call | Openfire |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 984 | ★ 3,052 |
| First released | 2022 | 2004 |
| Replaces | Zoom, Google Meet | Slack, 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 Openfire better?
Openfire 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 Openfire free and open-source?
Yes. Element Call is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Openfire under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Element Call and Openfire with Docker?
Element Call: yes. Openfire: yes.