HOMER
HOMER 11.0.x fixes a critical S3/DuckDB contention bug and adds call-level fields to MCP NL search
Comparison · Meetings
Element Call vs Gather
A side-by-side editorial comparison of Element Call and Gather — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Element Call vs Gather: at a glance
What is Element Call?
Element Call drops MatrixRTC legacy mode entirely, betting the entire call stack on the multi-SFU protocol.
Element Call is deep into a protocol transition: MatrixRTC legacy mode was removed in v0.25.0-rc.1, and .well-known transport discovery was removed in v0.24.0-rc.1. Both had been optional for months before the forced cutover. The current v0.26.x RC cycle is stabilizing the post-legacy stack with bug fixes to audio output selection, memberId handling in MatrixRTC mode, and leave timing adjustments when SFU delegation is active. The product ships exclusively as release candidates at this stage, signaling it's in final pre-release hardening.
What is Gather?
Gather is shipping vibes, not productivity wins.
Recent releases are entirely cosmetic and ambient — confetti reactions, dance emotes, seasonal object packs for Easter and Passover, and a 22-color floor palette. No platform, integration, or collaboration feature has shipped in the visible window. Pace is steady but substance is thin.
Element Call vs Gather: editorial side-by-side
Element Call
6.3MEETINGS
Element Call drops MatrixRTC legacy mode entirely, betting the entire call stack on the multi-SFU protocol.
◆ Current state
Element Call is deep into a protocol transition: MatrixRTC legacy mode was removed in v0.25.0-rc.1, and .well-known transport discovery was removed in v0.24.0-rc.1. Both had been optional for months before the forced cutover. The current v0.26.x RC cycle is stabilizing the post-legacy stack with bug fixes to audio output selection, memberId handling in MatrixRTC mode, and leave timing adjustments when SFU delegation is active. The product ships exclusively as release candidates at this stage, signaling it's in final pre-release hardening.
◆ Where it's heading
Having removed both legacy transport paths, Element Call is fully committed to a multi-SFU architecture where each homeserver operator runs their own SFU and participants connect to whichever SFUs host the streams they need. The ongoing RC cycle and the LiveKit logging improvements in v0.26.0-rc.1 point to a push for call-quality diagnostics before a stable release. Mobile performance has been a consistent focus across v0.22–v0.26 — landscape layouts, PiP mode, voice-only call handling — pointing to mobile as a priority segment.
◆ Prediction
A stable v0.26.0 release is imminent given the RC cadence. The delegated leave timing breaking change in v0.26.0-rc.2 is unfinished infrastructure for SFU delegation — that work will likely define the next development cycle.
Gather
2.5MEETINGSCOLLAB
Gather is shipping vibes, not productivity wins.
◆ Current state
Recent releases are entirely cosmetic and ambient — confetti reactions, dance emotes, seasonal object packs for Easter and Passover, and a 22-color floor palette. No platform, integration, or collaboration feature has shipped in the visible window. Pace is steady but substance is thin.
◆ Where it's heading
Gather is reinforcing its identity as a fun virtual office rather than a serious meeting tool. Continued investment in expressive interactions and decorative content points to retention via novelty over feature depth. The product is leaning into character, not capability.
◆ Prediction
Expect more seasonal drops and cosmetic customization. A summer-themed pack and additional emote-style interactions are the obvious next moves.
Alternatives to Element Call and Gather
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 Gather.
Restream
Restream deepening X integration and adding Slack as a live streaming destination
JW Player
JW Player expands ad analytics and vertical video while hardening mobile SDKs
Fourwaves
Fourwaves replaces per-event pricing with an annual submission model and lets organizers connect custom domains to event websites.
Nextcloud Talk Desktop
Nextcloud Talk Desktop 2.3.2 ships Talk v25 stable with E2EE call audio fix
BigBlueButton
BigBlueButton 4.0 enters release candidate with LiveKit fully replacing the legacy audio stack.
See all Element Call alternatives → · See all Gather alternatives →
Recent activity from Element Call and Gather
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 4d agoElement Callv0.26.1-rc.1
- 17d agoElement Callv0.26.0-rc.2
- 18d agoElement Callv0.26.0-rc.1
- 28d agoElement CallMatrixRTC legacy mode removed — all calls now run on the new protocol ⚡
- 1mo agoElement Callv0.24.0-rc.1
- 1mo agoElement Callv0.23.0-rc.1
- 4mo agoGatherConfetti reactions and an F-key shortcut
- 4mo agoGatherNew floor colors & patterns
- 5mo agoGatherEaster object pack
- 5mo agoGatherEaster object pack
- 5mo agoGatherEaster object pack
- 6mo agoGatherChag Sameach! New Passover objects
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Element Call and Gather?
They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Element Call is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 2.5), with 1 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. 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 Gather?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Element Call is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 2.5), with 1 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. 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 Gather?
Top Gather alternatives in Meetings are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Gather alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/gather for the full list with editorial commentary on each.