ElementvsSurrealDB
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| Element | SurrealDB | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 76/100 | 77/100 |
| Rank in category | #2 of 13 in Instant Messaging | #5 of 38 in Databases |
| GitHub stars | 13 622 | 33 242 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +118 | +175 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 18 | 22 |
| Latest release | v1.12.33 · 27 Oct 2026 | v3.3.5 · 29 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Other |
| Main language | Typescript | Rust |
Which one should you pick?
SurrealDB scores 77/100 against 76/100 for Element, so it is the safer default.
SurrealDB ships more often: 22 stable releases in the past year, against 18 for Element.
If you want the quickest setup, SurrealDB is easier to run; Element needs more configuration.
Element details →SurrealDB details →
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