MEETINGS
3CX is opening the PBX to agents while its feed fills with awards and academy news
Alternatives · video conferencing tools
Element Call alternatives
The best Element Call alternatives in video conferencing tools, ranked by Sparkpulse's velocity_score.
Updated Oct 17, 2026
Looking for the best alternatives to Element Call? Sparkpulse tracks and ranks 12 alternatives in video conferencing tools by shipping velocity — how frequently each ships meaningful updates, verified from official changelogs. For reference, Element Call shipped 0 meaningful updates in the last 30 days and carries a velocity score of 5.0 out of 10 in 2026. The alternatives below are ranked the same way, so you're comparing real release momentum, not marketing claims.
About Element Call
With the protocol cutover behind it, Element Call is back to polishing the in-call experience.
Element Call finished its architectural transition this summer: multi-SFU routing became the default in v0.21 and MatrixRTC legacy mode was removed in v0.25. The releases since are smaller: audio output defaults, delayed-leave timing tweaks, and now a quick audio menu and bell reaction sound in v0.28.
Velocity 5.0 · Last update 11d ago
Top 12 alternatives to Element Call
Ranked by recent ship velocity. Tap any card for the full editorial breakdown, or pivot to a head-to-head.
MEETINGS
Fourwaves is in a polish cycle: custom-domain fixes, accessibility rules and password UX.
MEETINGS
Switcher Studio adds Instant Replay — a live broadcasting capability that finally closes the gap with dedicated sports streaming rigs.
MEETINGS
Wowza is rebuilding around one idea: run computer vision inside the streaming pipeline.
MEETINGS
rtpengine pushes a runaway-recursion guard to four branches, then fixes the compile break.
MEETINGS
Nextcloud Talk patches v22 and v23 while v25 stable sits five weeks past its last RC.
MEETINGS
HOMER 11 spends a release closing security holes in its query and auth surface
MEETINGS
JW Player lifts JWX ad ops to the account level as live and VOD editing converge.
MEETINGS
BigBlueButton 4.0 rc.5 drops Etherpad and makes BlockNote the only notes editor.
MEETINGS
Restream is turning live streams into a clips-and-leads pipeline
MEETINGS
Greenlight 3.9 makes URL_HOST mandatory, forcing admin action on every self-hosted deployment.
MEETINGS
Jitsi rearchitects transcription and adds Document PiP as GSoC 2026 projects ship
Element Call vs alternatives — shipping velocity at a glance
Velocity score (0–10) and meaningful releases shipped in the last 30 days, from official changelogs. Higher = shipping faster.
| Product | Velocity | Sparks · 30d | Focus areas | Latest release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Element Call (baseline) | 5.0 | 0 | matrixwebrtcvideo calls | MatrixRTC legacy mode removed — all calls now run on the new protocol |
| 3CX | 7.5 | 0 | voipself-hostedmcp | 3CX MCP Server: Manage Your PBX With AI |
| Fourwaves | 6.3 | 0 | event-managementacademic-conferencescustom-domains | — |
| Switcher Studio | 6.3 | 0 | live-streamingsports-broadcastinginstant-replay | Your Best Play, Twice: Instant Replay for Switcher Is Live |
| Wowza | 6.3 | 0 | video-intelligencecomputer-visionsynthetic-media | How NVIDIA And Wowza Are Detecting Synthetic Video In Live Streams |
| rtpengine | 5.0 | 0 | webrtcmedia-proxyvoip | — |
| Nextcloud Talk | 5.0 | 0 | self-hostedcompliancesecurity-hardening | — |
| HOMER | 5.0 | 0 | voip-observabilitysipsecurity-hardening | — |
| JW Player | 5.0 | 0 | ad servingssaicmaf | — |
| BigBlueButton | 5.0 | 0 | video-conferencingopen-sourcelivekit | BigBlueButton 4.0 rc.1 completes the LiveKit audio migration |
| Restream | 5.0 | 0 | clipsshort-formwebinars | — |
| Greenlight | 5.0 | 0 | video-conferencingbigbluebuttonself-hosted | — |
| Jitsi | 5.0 | 0 | video-conferencingopen-sourcetranscription | — |
The 12 best Element Call alternatives, in depth
1. 3CX · velocity 7.5
3CX is opening the PBX to agents while its feed fills with awards and academy news.
Its velocity score of 7.5/10 reflects longer-term release cadence; its most recent meaningful update was “3CX MCP Server: Manage Your PBX With AI”.
Where Element Call leans on matrix, webrtc and video calls, 3CX focuses on voip, self hosted and mcp.
3CX and Element Call have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
2. Fourwaves · velocity 6.3
Fourwaves is in a polish cycle: custom-domain fixes, accessibility rules and password UX.
Its velocity score of 6.3/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where Element Call leans on matrix, webrtc and video calls, Fourwaves focuses on event management, academic conferences and custom domains.
Fourwaves and Element Call have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full Fourwaves trajectory → · Compare Element Call vs Fourwaves →
3. Switcher Studio · velocity 6.3
Switcher Studio adds Instant Replay — a live broadcasting capability that finally closes the gap with dedicated sports streaming rigs.
Its velocity score of 6.3/10 reflects longer-term release cadence; its most recent meaningful update was “Your Best Play, Twice: Instant Replay for Switcher Is Live”.
Where Element Call leans on matrix, webrtc and video calls, Switcher Studio focuses on live streaming, sports broadcasting and instant replay.
Switcher Studio and Element Call have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full Switcher Studio trajectory → · Compare Element Call vs Switcher Studio →
4. Wowza · velocity 6.3
Wowza is rebuilding around one idea: run computer vision inside the streaming pipeline.
Its velocity score of 6.3/10 reflects longer-term release cadence; its most recent meaningful update was “How NVIDIA And Wowza Are Detecting Synthetic Video In Live Streams”.
Where Element Call leans on matrix, webrtc and video calls, Wowza focuses on video intelligence, computer vision and synthetic media.
Wowza and Element Call have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
5. rtpengine · velocity 5.0
Rtpengine pushes a runaway-recursion guard to four branches, then fixes the compile break.
Its velocity score of 5.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where Element Call leans on matrix, webrtc and video calls, rtpengine focuses on webrtc, media proxy and voip.
rtpengine and Element Call have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full rtpengine trajectory → · Compare Element Call vs rtpengine →
6. Nextcloud Talk · velocity 5.0
Nextcloud Talk patches v22 and v23 while v25 stable sits five weeks past its last RC.
Its velocity score of 5.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where Element Call leans on matrix, webrtc and video calls, Nextcloud Talk focuses on self hosted, compliance and security hardening.
Nextcloud Talk and Element Call have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full Nextcloud Talk trajectory → · Compare Element Call vs Nextcloud Talk →
7. HOMER · velocity 5.0
HOMER 11 spends a release closing security holes in its query and auth surface.
Its velocity score of 5.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where Element Call leans on matrix, webrtc and video calls, HOMER focuses on voip observability, sip and security hardening.
HOMER and Element Call have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
8. JW Player · velocity 5.0
JW Player lifts JWX ad ops to the account level as live and VOD editing converge.
Its velocity score of 5.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where Element Call leans on matrix, webrtc and video calls, JW Player focuses on ad serving, ssai and cmaf.
JW Player and Element Call have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full JW Player trajectory → · Compare Element Call vs JW Player →
9. BigBlueButton · velocity 5.0
BigBlueButton 4.0 rc.5 drops Etherpad and makes BlockNote the only notes editor.
Its velocity score of 5.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence; its most recent meaningful update was “BigBlueButton 4.0 rc.1 completes the LiveKit audio migration”.
Where Element Call leans on matrix, webrtc and video calls, BigBlueButton focuses on video conferencing, open source and livekit.
BigBlueButton and Element Call have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full BigBlueButton trajectory → · Compare Element Call vs BigBlueButton →
10. Restream · velocity 5.0
Restream is turning live streams into a clips-and-leads pipeline.
Its velocity score of 5.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where Element Call leans on matrix, webrtc and video calls, Restream focuses on clips, short form and webinars.
Restream and Element Call have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full Restream trajectory → · Compare Element Call vs Restream →
11. Greenlight · velocity 5.0
Greenlight 3.9 makes URL_HOST mandatory, forcing admin action on every self-hosted deployment.
Its velocity score of 5.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where Element Call leans on matrix, webrtc and video calls, Greenlight focuses on video conferencing, bigbluebutton and self hosted.
Greenlight and Element Call have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full Greenlight trajectory → · Compare Element Call vs Greenlight →
12. Jitsi · velocity 5.0
Jitsi rearchitects transcription and adds Document PiP as GSoC 2026 projects ship.
Its velocity score of 5.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where Element Call leans on matrix, webrtc and video calls, Jitsi focuses on video conferencing, open source and transcription.
Jitsi and Element Call have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best alternatives to Element Call?
The top Element Call alternatives we currently track in video conferencing tools are 3CX, Fourwaves, Switcher Studio, Wowza, rtpengine, ranked by recent ship velocity.
How is this list of Element Call alternatives ranked?
Alternatives are ranked by Sparkpulse's velocity_score — release cadence + 30-day spark count + sector-relative ship rate.
Can I compare Element Call directly with one of these alternatives?
Yes — every card has a "Compare with Element Call" link to a side-by-side /compare page.