# Element vs Misskey

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

| | Element | Misskey |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 76/100 ✓ | 74/100 |
| Rank in category | #2 of 13 in Instant Messaging | #1 of 5 in Fediverse |
| GitHub stars | 13 621 ✓ | 11 365 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +119 ✓ | +37 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 18 ✓ | 9 |
| Latest release | v1.12.33 · 27 Oct 2026 ✓ | 2026.10.1 · 23 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate ✓ | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | Yes ✓ | No |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Typescript | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

Element scores 76/100 against 74/100 for Misskey, so it is the safer default.

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

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)
- [Misskey](https://selfhost.directory/project/misskey) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/misskey.md)

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