Element Web vs Nheko
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Element Web
Glossy Matrix client for the web and desktop
VS
Nheko
Desktop Matrix client with native Qt interface
| Feature | Element Web | Nheko |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 94 · Excellent | 77 · Good |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 13,502 | ★ 2,496 |
| First released | 2016 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord, Microsoft Teams | Slack, Discord |
What are Element Web and Nheko?
Element Web
Element Web is the flagship Matrix client, providing a polished interface for chat, voice, and video over the Matrix protocol. It can be self-hosted alongside a homeserver for a fully owned communication stack.
- Full-featured Matrix client
- End-to-end encryption
- Voice and video calls
- Customizable branding
Nheko
Nheko is a free desktop client for the Matrix protocol built with Qt and C++. It supports end-to-end encryption, voice and video calls, and a clean native interface across Linux, Windows, and macOS.
- Native Qt interface
- End-to-end encryption
- Voice and video calls
- Low resource usage
Element Web vs Nheko: key differences
Element Web is written in TypeScript, while Nheko is built with C++. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Element Web versus GPL-3.0 for Nheko. Element Web is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Nheko. Element Web has the considerably larger community, at 13,502 GitHub stars versus 2,496. Element Web lists first-class Docker deployment; Nheko does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Element Web if…
- Most mature Matrix client
- Active development
Watch out for
- Heavier than minimal clients
- Best paired with own homeserver
Choose Nheko if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (2.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in C++
Frequently asked questions
Is Element Web or Nheko better?
Neither is universally better. Element Web has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Element Web and Nheko free and open-source?
Yes. Element Web is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Nheko under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Element Web and Nheko with Docker?
Element Web: yes. Nheko: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Element Web or Nheko?
Element Web has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Nheko. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.