head to head · open source
Element vs Tuta
Element has 13,481 GitHub stars, 2,758 forks, 3,779 open issues and last shipped today. Tuta has 7,925 stars, 639 forks, 1,001 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Element leads on adoption by 70% (13,481 vs 7,925 stars). Element is written in TypeScript under AGPL-3.0; Tuta is written in TypeScript under GPL-3.0. Element has attracted 20% as many forks as stars, Tuta 8%. Element 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 | Tuta | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 13K | ★ 7.9K |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-09-20 | 2026-09-19 |
| Forks | ⑂ 2.8K | ⑂ 639 |
| 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 Tuta if
- You want the Tuta feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and Tuta 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 Tuta
Tuta is an open source, end to end encrypted email, calendar and contacts service for individuals and teams who need private communication to work across every device they own.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Element or Tuta more popular?
Element has 13,481 GitHub stars and Tuta has 7,925. Element has the larger community by that measure.
Are Element and Tuta free?
Both are open source. Element is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Tuta under GPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Element and Tuta?
Element is written in TypeScript and Tuta 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 Tuta?
Choose Element if you want the larger community (13,481 stars) or its AGPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose Tuta if its feature set, stack or GPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.