Element Web vs Openfire
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
Openfire
Real-time collaboration XMPP server written in Java
| Feature | Element Web | Openfire |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 94 · Excellent | 87 · Excellent |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 13,502 | ★ 3,064 |
| First released | 2016 | 2004 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord, Microsoft Teams | Slack, Microsoft Teams |
What are Element Web and Openfire?
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
Openfire
Openfire is a mature, cross-platform real-time collaboration server that uses the XMPP protocol. It offers a clean web administration console and an extensive plugin ecosystem for chat, presence, and group communication.
- Web-based admin console
- Rich plugin ecosystem
- LDAP and Active Directory integration
- Group chat and presence
Element Web vs Openfire: key differences
Element Web is written in TypeScript, while Openfire is built with Java. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Element Web versus Apache-2.0 for Openfire. Element Web is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Openfire. Openfire is the more established project (first released 2004), while Element Web arrived in 2016. Element Web has the considerably larger community, at 13,502 GitHub stars versus 3,064.
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 Openfire if…
- Easy to administer
- Long track record
Watch out for
- Java memory footprint
- Dated user interface
Frequently asked questions
Is Element Web or Openfire better?
Element Web is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Openfire if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Element Web and Openfire free and open-source?
Yes. Element Web is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Openfire under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Element Web and Openfire with Docker?
Element Web: yes. Openfire: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Element Web or Openfire?
Element Web has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Openfire. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.