Postmark
Postmark adds its own SOC 2 Type 2 report to a run of security work.
Comparison · Comms
Element vs Gromox
A side-by-side editorial comparison of Element and Gromox — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Element vs Gromox: at a glance
What is Element?
Element 1.12.34 RC.1 keeps call picture-in-picture and adds read receipts to the labs timeline.
Element Web spent October on crypto UX: mandatory device verification, removal of guest tokens and NEB links, and a shorter recovery-key flow in 1.12.33. The 1.12.34 candidates add OS-level picture-in-picture for Element Call, a module switch that disables public rooms, recovery-key generation when logging out of the last device, and a softer reset warning; rc.1 adds read receipts in the labs timeline and a configurable default timezone.
What is Gromox?
Gromox 3.13 adds scripts to move Exchange-for-All systems onto it.
Gromox ships a numbered release roughly monthly. 3.13 adds scripts to convert E4A systems to Gromox, full two-way sync of IMAP keywords with MAPI categories, multi-message vCard export and audit logging in emsmdb and zcore, and fixes an EWS gap where any user could answer, alter or move meeting requests in other mailboxes. 3.12 moved MAPI-to-internet conversion onto VMIME with RFC 2231 filenames; 3.11 added IMAP FETCH BINARY and Sent Items copies for send-as and send-on-behalf on shared mailboxes.
Element vs Gromox: editorial side-by-side
Element
5.0COMMS
Element 1.12.34 RC.1 keeps call picture-in-picture and adds read receipts to the labs timeline.
◆ Current state
Element Web spent October on crypto UX: mandatory device verification, removal of guest tokens and NEB links, and a shorter recovery-key flow in 1.12.33. The 1.12.34 candidates add OS-level picture-in-picture for Element Call, a module switch that disables public rooms, recovery-key generation when logging out of the last device, and a softer reset warning; rc.1 adds read receipts in the labs timeline and a configurable default timezone.
◆ Where it's heading
Two tracks run in parallel: reducing key-loss failures in encryption, and giving deployers more control through the Module API. The public-room switch and timezone config point at managed and institutional deployments, while the new timeline in labs is slowly gaining parity features.
◆ Prediction
1.12.34 should ship stable within about a week, following the RC-to-release pattern of recent versions; read receipts suggest the new timeline is getting closer to replacing the old one.
Gromox
2.5COMMS
Gromox 3.13 adds scripts to move Exchange-for-All systems onto it.
◆ Current state
Gromox ships a numbered release roughly monthly. 3.13 adds scripts to convert E4A systems to Gromox, full two-way sync of IMAP keywords with MAPI categories, multi-message vCard export and audit logging in emsmdb and zcore, and fixes an EWS gap where any user could answer, alter or move meeting requests in other mailboxes. 3.12 moved MAPI-to-internet conversion onto VMIME with RFC 2231 filenames; 3.11 added IMAP FETCH BINARY and Sent Items copies for send-as and send-on-behalf on shared mailboxes.
◆ Where it's heading
The project keeps completing Exchange behaviour for clients that expect it, now including shared-mailbox Sent Items and meeting handling that matches Exchange. 3.13's conversion scripts and audit logging point at migration and compliance as the adoption path, alongside the IMAP work that has run since 3.8. Permission checks on EWS calendar operations show the protocol surface now gets security review, not only coverage.
◆ Prediction
Expect more EWS permission and behaviour corrections and continued IMAP4rev2 coverage; the E4A scripts suggest further migration tooling from other groupware.
Alternatives to Element and Gromox
Other Comms 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 or Gromox.
Element X Android
Element X Android turns on multi-select forwarding and better search in v26.11.0.
Fonoster
Fonoster lets voice agents pick Anthropic, Google or Groq models and record calls with one switch.
Salesmsg
Salesmsg's Sherpa AI now sends replies and builds broadcasts on request, with approval first.
Proton Bridge
Proton Bridge v3.27.2 adds support for the oo7 keyring on Linux.
Netcore Cloud
Netcore keeps publishing unified-platform explainers with no product release.
See all Element alternatives → · See all Gromox alternatives →
Recent activity from Element and Gromox
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 3d agoElement1.12.34 RC.1 adds labs read receipts and configurable timezone
- 6d agoElement1.12.34 RC: call picture-in-picture, module switch for public rooms
- 11d agoGromoxGromox 3.13
- 13d agoElementElement 1.12.33 ships simpler recovery keys, ends libolm migration
- 21d agoElement1.12.33 RC simplifies recovery keys, drops libolm migration
- 24d agoElementElement 1.12.32 removes guest tokens and NEB links to fix 2 advisories
- 27d agoElementElement 1.12.31 makes device verification mandatory by default
- 1mo agoGromoxGromox 3.12
- 1mo agoGromoxGromox 3.11
- 2mo agoGromox3.10 makes IMAP flags durable and teaches EWS Outlook for Mac's drafts
- 3mo agoGromox3.9 makes room bookings and EWS meetings properly actionable
- 4mo agoGromox3.8 splits the Information Store per store and extends IMAP
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Element and Gromox?
They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Element is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 5.0 vs 2.5), 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 better than Gromox?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Element is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 5.0 vs 2.5), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Comms products to evaluate alongside.
What are the best alternatives to Element?
Top Element alternatives in Comms are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Element alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/element-web for the full list with editorial commentary on each.
What are the best alternatives to Gromox?
Top Gromox alternatives in Comms are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Gromox alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/gromox for the full list with editorial commentary on each.