head to head · open source
Element vs Cinny
Element has 13,634 GitHub stars, 2,814 forks, 3,779 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Cinny has 3,961 stars, 607 forks, 354 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Element leads on adoption by 244% (13,634 vs 3,961 stars). Element is written in TypeScript under AGPL-3.0; Cinny is written in TypeScript under AGPL-3.0. Element has attracted 21% 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 | ★ 14K | ★ 4.0K |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-11-02 | 2026-11-02 |
| Forks | ⑂ 2.8K | ⑂ 607 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Element if
- You weight community size — 14K 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 Element (formerly known as Vector and Riot) is a Matrix web & desktop client built using the Matrix JS SDK. Supported Environments Element has several tiers of support for different environments: Supported Definition: Issues actively triaged , regressions block the release Last 2 major versions of Chrome, Firefox, and Edge on desktop OSes Last 2 versions of Safari Latest release of official Element Desktop app on desktop OSes Desktop OSes means macOS, Windows, and Linux versions for desktop devices that are actively supported by the OS vendor and receive security updates Best effort Definition: Issues…
read the full Element overview →
About Cinny
Cinny A Matrix client focusing primarily on simple, elegant and secure interface. The main goal is to have an instant messaging application that is easy on people and has a modern touch. Roadmap Contributing [!IMPORTANT] We are currently in the process of [replacing] the matrix js sdk with our own SDK. As a result, we will not be accepting any pull requests until further notice. Thank you for your understanding. [replacing]: Getting started The web app is available at [app.cinny.in] and gets updated on each new release. The dev branch is continuously deployed at [dev.cinny.in] but keep in mind that it could have…
read the full Cinny overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Element or Cinny more popular?
Element has 13,634 GitHub stars and Cinny has 3,961. 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 (13,634 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.