head to head · open source
Element vs Fluxer
Element has 13,461 GitHub stars, 2,759 forks, 3,779 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Fluxer has 10,299 stars, 758 forks, 111 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Element leads on adoption by 31% (13,461 vs 10,299 stars). Element is written in TypeScript under AGPL-3.0; Fluxer is written in TypeScript under AGPL-3.0. Element has attracted 20% as many forks as stars, Fluxer 7%. Fluxer was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
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 | Fluxer | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 13K | ★ 10K |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-09-17 | 2026-09-17 |
| Forks | ⑂ 2.8K | ⑂ 758 |
| 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 Fluxer if
- You want the Fluxer 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 Fluxer 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 Fluxer
Fluxer is a free and open source instant messaging and VoIP chat application built for friends, groups, and communities. The project's tagline describes it as messaging with privacy and community focus, and the GitHub description repeats the same core purpose. The repository is written in TypeScript and is distributed under the AGPL 3.0 license.
read the full Fluxer overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Element or Fluxer more popular?
Element has 13,461 GitHub stars and Fluxer has 10,299. Element has the larger community by that measure.
Are Element and Fluxer free?
Both are open source. Element is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Fluxer under AGPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Element and Fluxer?
Element is written in TypeScript and Fluxer 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 Fluxer?
Choose Element if you want the larger community (13,461 stars) or its AGPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose Fluxer if its feature set, stack or AGPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.