# CTFd vs Element

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | CTFd | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 70/100 | 76/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #1 of 30 in Education | #2 of 13 in Instant Messaging |
| GitHub stars | 6 894 | 13 621 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +44 | +119 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 9 | 18 ✓ |
| Latest release | 3.8.9 · 22 Oct 2026 | v1.12.33 · 27 Oct 2026 ✓ |
| Setup | Easy ✓ | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Python | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

Element scores 76/100 against 70/100 for CTFd, so it is the safer default.

Element ships more often: 18 stable releases in the past year, against 9 for CTFd.

If you want the quickest setup, CTFd is easier to run; Element needs more configuration.

Element is growing faster right now (+119 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [CTFd](https://selfhost.directory/project/ctfd) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/ctfd.md)
- [Element](https://selfhost.directory/project/element) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/element.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/ctfd-vs-element