Element X 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 X | Prose |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 82 · Excellent | 64 · Good |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | Swift | Vue |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 50 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 947 | ★ 59 |
| First released | 2022 | 2025 |
| Replaces | WhatsApp, Signal | Discord, Facebook Messenger, Signal |
What are Element X and Prose?
Element X
Element X is a rewritten, sliding-sync-powered Matrix client focused on speed and a streamlined mobile experience. It connects to any Matrix homeserver for chat and calls.
- Built on Matrix Rust SDK
- Very fast sync via sliding sync
- End-to-end encryption
- Native Element Call integration
Prose
Prose Web application. XMPP client for team messaging.
Element X vs Prose: key differences
Element X is written in Swift, while Prose is built with Vue. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Element X versus MPL-2.0 for Prose. Prose is the lighter option, starting around 50 MB of RAM against 64 MB for Element X. Element X is the more established project (first released 2022), while Prose arrived in 2025. Element X has the considerably larger community, at 947 GitHub stars versus 59.
Why pick each one
Choose Element X if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Swift
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Watch out for
- Mobile-focused
- Requires a Matrix 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 X or Prose better?
Neither is universally better. Element X has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Element X and Prose free and open-source?
Yes. Element X 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 X and Prose with Docker?
Element X: check the project docs for container support. Prose: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Element X or Prose?
Prose has the smaller minimum footprint at 50 MB of RAM, compared to about 64 MB for Element X. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.