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Element vs Jitsi Meet

A side-by-side comparison of two open-source tools to help you choose the right one.

Feature
SummarySecure, decentralized chat on Matrix.Free, encrypted video meetings with no account.
GitHub stars12K24K
LicenseAGPL 3.0Apache 2.0
LanguageTypeScriptJavaScript
PricingFree & Open SourceFree & Open Source
Self-hostable
ReplacesSlack, Discord, Microsoft TeamsZoom, Microsoft Teams
Rating4.3 / 54.4 / 5

Element features

  • End-to-end encrypted messaging
  • Decentralized, federated rooms
  • Voice and video calls
  • Bridges to Slack, Discord, IRC
  • Self-host your own homeserver

Jitsi Meet features

  • Browser-based meetings, no install for guests
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Screen sharing and recording
  • Live streaming to YouTube
  • Embeddable via SDK

Elementpros & cons

Pros

  • Strong encryption and decentralization
  • Bridges to other networks
  • No vendor lock-in

Cons

  • Running a homeserver takes effort
  • UX less slick than commercial apps

Jitsi Meetpros & cons

Pros

  • Instant meetings with no signup
  • Self-host for full control
  • Embeds into your own apps

Cons

  • Quality depends on your server
  • Large meetings need tuning

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