Element Web vs Let's Chat
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 Web
Glossy Matrix client for the web and desktop
VS
Let's Chat
Self-hosted chat app for small teams
| Feature | Element Web | Let's Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Team Chat |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 13,353 | ★ 9,803 |
| First released | 2016 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord, Microsoft Teams | Slack, HipChat |
Why pick each one
Choose Let's Chat if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 9.8k GitHub stars
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Element Web or Let's Chat better?
Element Web is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Let's Chat if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Element Web and Let's Chat free and open-source?
Yes. Element Web is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Let's Chat under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Element Web and Let's Chat with Docker?
Element Web: yes. Let's Chat: yes.