Wowza
Wowza's feed is blog and case studies, orbiting one real release: Streaming Engine 4.11's WebRTC overhaul
Comparison · Meetings
Element Call vs 3CX
A side-by-side editorial comparison of Element Call and 3CX — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Element Call vs 3CX: at a glance
What is Element Call?
Element Call goes multi-SFU by default, betting federated calls scale better without central negotiation.
Element Call is a Matrix-native video and voice app shipping fast release candidates, embeddable as a widget across web, Android, and iOS. Recent work centers on federated call architecture (multi-SFU) plus a steady stream of mobile UX polish and a migration onto the Compound design system.
What is 3CX?
3CX keeps a steady maintenance cadence while its feed fills with awards and discounts
3CX is shipping routine platform and client maintenance: the V5.6 softphone, iOS, and Android apps reached production, and an SBC beta adds Debian 13 support. Much of the feed, though, is news and promotion — a SourceForge award, forum recognition, and recurring hosting and renewal discounts. The product motion is incremental hardening rather than new capability.
Element Call vs 3CX: editorial side-by-side
Element Call
6.3MEETINGS
Element Call goes multi-SFU by default, betting federated calls scale better without central negotiation.
◆ Current state
Element Call is a Matrix-native video and voice app shipping fast release candidates, embeddable as a widget across web, Android, and iOS. Recent work centers on federated call architecture (multi-SFU) plus a steady stream of mobile UX polish and a migration onto the Compound design system.
◆ Where it's heading
The defining move is architectural: defaulting to multi-SFU so each homeserver owns its own media path, hardening Element Call for federated and self-hosted deployments. Around that, the team is grinding mobile call ergonomics, edge-to-edge layouts, portrait one-on-one, PiP, gradient theming, while retiring the old design system.
◆ Prediction
Expect the multi-SFU default to graduate from RC to stable and continued mobile-first UX refinement; the growing set of config options (matrix_rtc_mode, background) points to more deployment-tuning knobs for embedders next.
3CX
6.3MEETINGS
3CX keeps a steady maintenance cadence while its feed fills with awards and discounts
◆ Current state
3CX is shipping routine platform and client maintenance: the V5.6 softphone, iOS, and Android apps reached production, and an SBC beta adds Debian 13 support. Much of the feed, though, is news and promotion — a SourceForge award, forum recognition, and recurring hosting and renewal discounts. The product motion is incremental hardening rather than new capability.
◆ Where it's heading
The near-term arc is platform currency and stability: keeping clients current across mobile and desktop, extending OS support, and pushing customers toward Hosted by 3CX via discounts. Nothing here signals a new capability direction; the AI Edition tier appears in pricing but not in these release notes. Expect continued maintenance releases and promotional pushes.
◆ Prediction
Next entries are likely more V5.6-line app and SBC updates plus further hosting promotions, with any AI Edition features landing outside this window.
Alternatives to Element Call and 3CX
Other Meetings products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either Element Call or 3CX.
Vimeo
Vimeo's public feed is mostly SEO how-tos, with Live events the lone product signal
Webex
Webex pairs AI governance with on-prem AI to defend the enterprise suite
Intermedia
The tracked feed is Intermedia's UCaaS marketing blog, not a product changelog.
Digital Samba
Digital Samba's feed is all thought leadership; the product changelog is invisible here.
Bizzabo
Bizzabo keeps its product quiet and its blog loud, with SmartBadge engagement the throughline.
See all Element Call alternatives → · See all 3CX alternatives →
Recent activity from Element Call and 3CX
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 2d ago3CX3CX Named SourceForge Category Leader for Summer 2026
- 2d ago3CX3CX SBC Update BETA Including Debian 13 Support
- 5d agoElement CallGradient background by default; mobile call UI polish
- 6d ago3CX3CX Forum Top Contributors of Q2 2026
- 10d ago3CX50% Discount on Hosted by 3CX for Peace of Mind
- 10d ago3CXUpgrade & Multi-Year Renewal Discount Offers Extended
- 18d ago3CX3CX Softphone App V5.6
- 19d agoElement CallMulti-SFU calling becomes the default ⚡
- 1mo agoElement Callmatrix_rtc_mode config option and clearer error reporting
- 1mo agoElement CallBugfixes: device switcher labels, older-WebView polyfill
- 1mo agoElement CallFast switcher and portrait one-on-one call layout
- 2mo agoElement CallEdge-to-edge mobile display and sync-error grace period
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Element Call and 3CX?
They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Element Call and 3CX are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 6.3 vs 6.3, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.
Is Element Call better than 3CX?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Element Call and 3CX are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 6.3 vs 6.3, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Meetings products to evaluate alongside.
What are the best alternatives to Element Call?
Top Element Call alternatives in Meetings are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Element Call alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/element-call for the full list with editorial commentary on each.
What are the best alternatives to 3CX?
Top 3CX alternatives in Meetings are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "3CX alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/3cx for the full list with editorial commentary on each.