# Element vs Workout.cool

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

| | Element | Workout.cool |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 76/100 ✓ | 66/100 |
| Rank in category | #2 of 13 in Instant Messaging | #2 of 11 in Fitness Tracker |
| GitHub stars | 13 623 ✓ | 8 654 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +119 | +155 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 18 ✓ | 1 |
| Latest release | v1.12.33 · 27 Oct 2026 ✓ | v1.3.2 · 7 Dec 2025 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes ✓ | No |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Main language | Typescript | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

Element scores 76/100 against 66/100 for Workout.cool, so it is the safer default.

Element ships more often: 18 stable releases in the past year, against 1 for Workout.cool.

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

## Details

- [Element](https://selfhost.directory/project/element) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/element.md)
- [Workout.cool](https://selfhost.directory/project/workout-cool) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/workout-cool.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/element-vs-workout-cool