# Element vs Lathe

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

| | Element | Lathe |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 76/100 ✓ | 52/100 |
| Rank in category | #2 of 13 in Instant Messaging | #7 of 30 in Education |
| GitHub stars | 13 621 ✓ | 1 708 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +119 | — |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 18 ✓ | 6 |
| Latest release | v1.12.33 · 27 Oct 2026 ✓ | v0.5.0 · 20 Jul 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes ✓ | No |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Main language | Typescript | Go |

## Which one should you pick?

Element scores 76/100 against 52/100 for Lathe, so it is the safer default.

Element ships more often: 18 stable releases in the past year, against 6 for Lathe.

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

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

## Details

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

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