Element Web vs Simple-Matrix-Bot-Lib
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 Web
Glossy Matrix client for the web and desktop
VS
Simple-Matrix-Bot-Lib
Beginner-friendly framework for Matrix bots
| Feature | Element Web | Simple-Matrix-Bot-Lib |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 13,353 | ★ 100 |
| First released | 2016 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord, Microsoft Teams | Slack bot framework |
Why pick each one
Choose Simple-Matrix-Bot-Lib if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Element Web or Simple-Matrix-Bot-Lib 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 Simple-Matrix-Bot-Lib free and open-source?
Yes. Element Web is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Simple-Matrix-Bot-Lib under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Element Web and Simple-Matrix-Bot-Lib with Docker?
Element Web: yes. Simple-Matrix-Bot-Lib: check the project docs for container support.