rtpengine
rtpengine backports the same DTLS and socket fixes across four maintenance branches at once.
Comparison · Meetings
Element Call vs OpenSIPS
A side-by-side editorial comparison of Element Call and OpenSIPS — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Element Call vs OpenSIPS: 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 OpenSIPS?
OpenSIPS 4.0 is in release-candidate testing, with two RCs a month apart.
OpenSIPS, the open-source SIP proxy and server, has two tracked entries: 4.0.0-rc1 in May and 4.0.0-rc2 in June 2026. Both release notes are one-line announcements, so the specific 4.0 changes are not visible in the feed.
Element Call vs OpenSIPS: 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.
OpenSIPS
0.0MEETINGS
OpenSIPS 4.0 is in release-candidate testing, with two RCs a month apart.
◆ Current state
OpenSIPS, the open-source SIP proxy and server, has two tracked entries: 4.0.0-rc1 in May and 4.0.0-rc2 in June 2026. Both release notes are one-line announcements, so the specific 4.0 changes are not visible in the feed.
◆ Where it's heading
The product is moving toward a 4.0 major release through a standard RC cycle. A second RC a month after the first suggests stabilization work rather than new scope, but the entries do not say what 4.0 changes.
◆ Prediction
A 4.0.0 general release is the next expected step; what it contains cannot be read from these announcements.
Alternatives to Element Call and OpenSIPS
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 OpenSIPS.
coturn
coturn ships three minor versions in six weeks, packaged as Docker images on three registries.
Kamailio
Kamailio's tracked feed shows one thing: a quiet, schema-stable 5.8 maintenance release.
JW Player
JW Player is rebuilding its VOD pipeline around CMAF, one workflow fix at a time
Restream
Restream's webinars get a registration page and a CSV of leads, turning broadcasts into a pipeline
BigBlueButton
BigBlueButton 4.0 rc.4 is a security-only release as the LiveKit stack hardens.
See all Element Call alternatives → · See all OpenSIPS alternatives →
Recent activity from Element Call and OpenSIPS
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 12d agoElement Callv0.26.1-rc.1
- 24d agoElement Callv0.26.0-rc.2
- 26d agoElement Callv0.26.0-rc.1
- 1mo agoElement CallMatrixRTC legacy mode removed — all calls now run on the new protocol ⚡
- 1mo agoElement Callv0.24.0-rc.1
- 2mo agoElement Callv0.23.0-rc.1
- 3mo agoOpenSIPSOpenSIPS 4.0 release candidate 2
- 4mo agoOpenSIPSOpenSIPS 4.0 enters release-candidate testing
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Element Call and OpenSIPS?
They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Element Call is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 0.0), with 0 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 OpenSIPS?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Element Call is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 0.0), with 0 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 OpenSIPS?
Top OpenSIPS alternatives in Meetings are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "OpenSIPS alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/opensips for the full list with editorial commentary on each.