head to head · open source
Element vs Cinny
Element has 13,481 GitHub stars, 2,758 forks, 3,779 open issues and last shipped today. Cinny has 3,897 stars, 578 forks, 354 open issues and last shipped 5 days ago. Element leads on adoption by 246% (13,481 vs 3,897 stars). Element is written in TypeScript under AGPL-3.0; Cinny is written in TypeScript under AGPL-3.0. Element has attracted 20% as many forks as stars, Cinny 15%. Element was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 2 topic tags (hacktoberfest, matrix), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| Element | Cinny | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 13K | ★ 3.9K |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-09-20 | 2026-09-15 |
| Forks | ⑂ 2.8K | ⑂ 578 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Element if
- You weight community size — 13K stars and counting
- You want the AGPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Cinny if
- You want the Cinny feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the AGPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and Cinny fits your workflow better
About Element
Element is a Matrix collaboration client for the web and desktop, and its tagline describes it as secure, decentralized messaging for teams and individuals. It is built with the Matrix JS SDK and lives in the Matrix ecosystem as an open alternative to Slack and Google Meet.
read the full Element overview →
About Cinny
Cinny is an open source Matrix client written in TypeScript under AGPL 3.0. It lives in the Matrix ecosystem and is presented as "yet another matrix client," focusing on a simple, elegant, and secure interface. Its stated goal is an instant messaging application that is easy for people and has a modern touch.
read the full Cinny overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Element or Cinny more popular?
Element has 13,481 GitHub stars and Cinny has 3,897. Element has the larger community by that measure.
Are Element and Cinny free?
Both are open source. Element is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Cinny under AGPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Element and Cinny?
Element is written in TypeScript and Cinny in TypeScript. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, Element or Cinny?
Choose Element if you want the larger community (13,481 stars) or its AGPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose Cinny if its feature set, stack or AGPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.