Element Web vs Prose
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Element Web | Prose |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 94 · Excellent | 64 · Good |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Vue |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 50 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 13,502 | ★ 59 |
| First released | 2016 | 2025 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord, Microsoft Teams | Discord, Facebook Messenger, Signal |
What are Element Web and Prose?
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
Prose
Prose Web application. XMPP client for team messaging.
Element Web vs Prose: key differences
Element Web is written in TypeScript, while Prose is built with Vue. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Element Web versus MPL-2.0 for Prose. Prose is the lighter option, starting around 50 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Element Web. Element Web is the more established project (first released 2016), while Prose arrived in 2025. Element Web has the considerably larger community, at 13,502 GitHub stars versus 59. Element Web lists first-class Docker deployment; Prose 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 Prose if…
- Released under the MPL-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Vue
- Tiny footprint — runs in 50 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Element Web or Prose 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 Prose free and open-source?
Yes. Element Web is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Prose under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Element Web and Prose with Docker?
Element Web: yes. Prose: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Element Web or Prose?
Prose has the smaller minimum footprint at 50 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Element Web. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.