# Element vs Mastodon

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

| | Element | Mastodon |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 76/100 | 82/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #2 of 13 in Instant Messaging | #2 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums |
| GitHub stars | 13 621 | 50 456 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +119 | +137 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 18 | 38 ✓ |
| Latest release | v1.12.33 · 27 Oct 2026 ✓ | v4.4.26 · 1 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate ✓ | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Typescript | Ruby |

## Which one should you pick?

Mastodon scores 82/100 against 76/100 for Element, so it is the safer default.

Mastodon ships more often: 38 stable releases in the past year, against 18 for Element.

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

## Details

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

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