Chat vs Element-web
Chat and Element-web are both team chat software. Chat is open source under GPL-3.0, with 14k GitHub stars. Element-web is open source under AGPL-3.0, with 14k GitHub stars.
Which to pick
- Pick Chat when
- You want to embed or run your own messaging service with ready clients.
- Pick Element-web when
- You use Matrix and want the most complete client, or want to host your own web client.
Side by side
An instant messaging server in Go with web, Android and iOS clients, group chats and a chatbot API.
The Element web and desktop client for Matrix, with encrypted messaging, rooms, threads and calls.
Still pre-1.0 after many years, with a small team.
Heavy for a chat client, and moved to AGPL.
Usable
Production-ready
Self-hosted server and mobile app
Self-hosted server and desktop app
Go, PostgreSQL, MySQL and MongoDB
TypeScript and React
Open source, GPL-3.0 (strong copyleft)
Open source, AGPL-3.0 (network copyleft)
Use inside your business is unrestricted, but anything you distribute that includes it must be released under the same license.
Use inside your business is unrestricted. If you change it and let customers use it over the internet, you must publish your changes.
14k GitHub stars (both)
Established: started 12 years ago, latest release v0.25.3.
Established: started 11 years ago, latest release v1.12.33.
Other comparisons
More team chat apps
Both sides were judged on 2026-11-03 from each project's README and GitHub data. License, age and popularity lines are worked out directly.