head to head · open source
Signal vs Element
Signal has 29,352 GitHub stars, 6,888 forks, 498 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Element has 13,461 stars, 2,759 forks, 3,779 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Signal leads on adoption by 118% (29,352 vs 13,461 stars). Signal is written in Kotlin under AGPL-3.0; Element is written in TypeScript under AGPL-3.0. Signal has attracted 23% as many forks as stars, Element 20%. Signal 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
| Signal | Element | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 29K | ★ 13K |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Written in | Kotlin | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-09-17 | 2026-09-17 |
| Forks | ⑂ 6.9K | ⑂ 2.8K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Signal if
- You weight community size — 29K stars and counting
- You want the AGPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Kotlin
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Element if
- You want the Element 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 Element fits your workflow better
About Signal
Signal Android is a secure messaging application for Android devices that delivers private communication via end to end encryption. Developed by Signal Messenger, LLC, it operates within the broader Signal ecosystem, which includes official iOS and desktop clients. The app uses mobile data or Wi Fi to send and receive encrypted messages, voice calls, and video calls without relying on traditional SMS or telephony infrastructure.
read the full Signal overview →
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 →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Signal or Element more popular?
Signal has 29,352 GitHub stars and Element has 13,461. Signal has the larger community by that measure.
Are Signal and Element free?
Both are open source. Signal is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Element under AGPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Signal and Element?
Signal is written in Kotlin and Element 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, Signal or Element?
Choose Signal if you want the larger community (29,352 stars) or its AGPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose Element if its feature set, stack or AGPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.