# Element vs Shields

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

| | Element | Shields |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 76/100 | 80/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #2 of 13 in Instant Messaging | #6 of 166 in Developer Tools |
| GitHub stars | 13 622 | 27 331 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +118 | +125 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 18 ✓ | 0 |
| Latest release | v1.12.33 · 27 Oct 2026 | — |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Main language | Typescript | JavaScript |

## Which one should you pick?

Shields scores 80/100 against 76/100 for Element, so it is the safer default.

Element ships more often: 18 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Shields.

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

## Details

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

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