Element Web vs Slidge
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
Slidge
XMPP-to-anything puppeteering bridge framework
| Feature | Element Web | Slidge |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 13,353 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2016 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord, Microsoft Teams | Beeper, Matrix bridges |
Why pick each one
Choose Slidge if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Element Web or Slidge better?
Element Web is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Slidge if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Element Web and Slidge free and open-source?
Yes. Element Web is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Slidge under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Element Web and Slidge with Docker?
Element Web: yes. Slidge: yes.