Element

The main Matrix chat client for the web and desktop, used for team and community chat on servers you host or on the public network.

13.6k stars, 2.8k forks TypeScript On GitHub since July 2015

Visit website View on GitHub How to run it

What is Element?

Element Web, formerly Vector and Riot, is a browser and desktop client for Matrix, the open, federated messaging protocol. People on your own homeserver can chat in rooms and direct messages with users on any other Matrix server. It is built on the Matrix JS SDK, supports current Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari, and is packaged as a desktop app for macOS, Windows and Linux. For phones the team recommends the separate Element X apps. Translations cover 36 languages.

Good fit if

  • You want Slack-style chat that federates with other organizations instead of locking users into one vendor.
  • You already run or plan to run a Matrix homeserver.

Look elsewhere if

  • You want one self-contained team chat server with simpler administration: Zulip or Rocket.Chat.
  • You want a messenger without any user identifiers: SimpleX Chat.

Before you adopt it

Element Web is AGPL-3.0, and the company behind it requires a CLA for contributions. The repository holds no paid code, but Element Call and the Enterprise Server Suite are separate commercial products. This is only the client: you also need a Matrix homeserver. You can host the static web app yourself or run the Docker image.

Drafted with AI from the project's README and repository data, then checked against that data on 31 October 2026. Report a correction

Element health: is it still maintained?

90 of 100, actively developed

  • Activity
    680 commits in the last 90 days, the latest on 3 November 2026.
    30 / 30
  • Contributors
    18 people wrote the latest 100 commits; the most active wrote 31% of them.
    17 / 20
  • Releases
    10 releases in the last 12 months; the latest, v1.12.33, on 27 October 2026.
    18 / 20
  • Replies to issues
    Maintainers answered 100% of recent issues, with a median first reply after 18 hours.
    20 / 20
  • Security practices
    No OpenSSF Scorecard for this repository yet, so this part gets a neutral score.
    5 / 10

Read from GitHub on 3 November 2026. How the score works

Element license: is it open source?

Element uses AGPL-3.0, an open-source license approved by the OSI. The same code is also sold under a commercial license. Contributors sign a contributor license agreement, which lets the owner relicense their work later.

  1. July 2015First published on GitHub.
  2. TodayAGPL-3.0. A contributor license agreement is required.

How to run Element yourself

Docker
Dockerfile or compose file in the repository
Compose file
None in the repository
Setup effort
Not rated: no compose file to judge from
Kubernetes
No Helm chart in the repository
Desktop and mobile
No app builds in GitHub releases
Interface languages
36 languages

Install instructions: element.io or the README on GitHub.

Alternatives to Element

  • MattermostMattermost is an open source platform for secure collaboration across the entire software development… 74 health · Apache-2.0 · 39.5k stars
  • Rocket.ChatThe Secure CommsOS™ for mission-critical operations 82 health · MIT · 46.4k stars
  • ZulipZulip server and web application. Open-source team chat that helps teams stay productive and focused. 93 health · Apache-2.0 · 26.2k stars
  • SimpleX ChatSimpleX - the first messaging network operating without user identifiers of any kind - 100% private by… 65 health · AGPL-3.0 · 19.6k stars
  • FluxerA free and open source instant messaging and VoIP chat app built for friends, groups, and communities. 65 health · AGPL-3.0 · 10.8k stars

All 7 projects in Team chat

Questions about Element

Is Element open source?

Yes. Element is published under AGPL-3.0, an OSI-approved open-source license.

Is Element still maintained?

Its health score is 90 of 100 (actively developed). It had 680 commits in the last 90 days, the latest on 3 November 2026, and its latest release came out on 27 October 2026.

How do I run Element?

You can run it with Docker. The README on GitHub has the exact steps.

What are the alternatives to Element?

Close alternatives in the Team chat category include Mattermost, Rocket.Chat, Zulip.