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Comparison · Comms
Element vs Stalwart
A side-by-side editorial comparison of Element and Stalwart — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Shared themes:self-hosted
Element vs Stalwart: at a glance
What is Element?
Element is turning its web client into a document-and-call workspace, one RC at a time.
Element Web ships on a steady two-week release-candidate cadence, with large feature lists contributed across a broad core team. After clearing out the legacy Module & Customisation API in 1.12.30, the 1.12.31 RC shifts attention to user-facing surface: in-app PDF and Markdown viewers, Element Call embedded as a React component, and tighter device-verification defaults. The module ecosystem (banner, widget-lifecycle, restricted-guests) has finished its port to Module API v2.
What is Stalwart?
Stalwart adds full SCIM v2 provisioning and 24-language calendar support as its standards coverage extends further than most commercial mail servers.
Stalwart is maintaining a weekly-or-faster release cadence, with alternating feature releases and dense bug-fix releases. The v0.16.20 release landed full SCIM v2 (Enterprise) including cursor-based pagination and the IPSIE lifecycle profile, conference links in calendar invites, and 24 new calendar interface translations. Below the feature line, the project is steadily closing correctness gaps across JMAP, CalDAV, IMAP, and MTA — many of them edge-case RFC compliance issues.
Element vs Stalwart: editorial side-by-side
Element
5.0COMMS
Element is turning its web client into a document-and-call workspace, one RC at a time.
◆ Current state
Element Web ships on a steady two-week release-candidate cadence, with large feature lists contributed across a broad core team. After clearing out the legacy Module & Customisation API in 1.12.30, the 1.12.31 RC shifts attention to user-facing surface: in-app PDF and Markdown viewers, Element Call embedded as a React component, and tighter device-verification defaults. The module ecosystem (banner, widget-lifecycle, restricted-guests) has finished its port to Module API v2.
◆ Where it's heading
The arc runs from platform cleanup to product consolidation: with the extension layer standardized, the team is folding calls, file viewing and threads more directly into the core client. Security posture is also tightening, with device verification no longer skippable by default and clearer crypto wording at sign-in.
◆ Prediction
Expect 1.12.31 final within about a week, followed by further RCs that extend the in-client viewers and Element Call integration rather than new module API work.
Stalwart
6.3COMMS
Stalwart adds full SCIM v2 provisioning and 24-language calendar support as its standards coverage extends further than most commercial mail servers.
◆ Current state
Stalwart is maintaining a weekly-or-faster release cadence, with alternating feature releases and dense bug-fix releases. The v0.16.20 release landed full SCIM v2 (Enterprise) including cursor-based pagination and the IPSIE lifecycle profile, conference links in calendar invites, and 24 new calendar interface translations. Below the feature line, the project is steadily closing correctness gaps across JMAP, CalDAV, IMAP, and MTA — many of them edge-case RFC compliance issues.
◆ Where it's heading
Stalwart is building toward parity with commercial enterprise mail servers on identity federation and provisioning (SCIM v2, VAPID for web push, DMARCbis/DKIM2 already landed). The pace of RFC implementation is unusually aggressive for an open-source project; the combination of JMAP, CalDAV, IMAP UIDONLY/UIDBATCHES, and SCIM v2 positions it as a viable self-hosted alternative for organizations that need standards compliance without vendor lock-in.
◆ Prediction
WebAuthn/passkey-based authentication and improved multi-tenant administration tooling are the most likely next capability additions, given the current trajectory toward enterprise identity management.
Alternatives to Element and Stalwart
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 Stalwart.
Netcore Cloud
Netcore's feed is all content marketing, now widening from fintech to retail.
Twilio
Twilio is wiring customer memory and media into one AI-ready conversation layer.
TalkJS
TalkJS ships a steady monthly drip that keeps its chat SDK level with what apps expect.
Salesmsg
Salesmsg turns NPS surveys into a recurring trigger for its automations.
Proton Bridge
Proton Bridge stays in maintenance mode: sync-state recovery, security patches, IMAP correctness.
See all Element alternatives → · See all Stalwart alternatives →
Recent activity from Element and Stalwart
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 1d agoElementRC adds PDF/Markdown viewers, mandatory device verification
- 8d agoElementLegacy customisation API removed; X.509 IPC joins Module API
- 8d agoElementBanner module fixes logo link in Univention mode
- 14d agoElementSecond release candidate for 1.12.30
- 14d agoElementFirst release candidate for 1.12.30
- 15d agoElementDocker image picks up updated modules
- 1mo agoStalwartv0.16.21
- 1mo agoStalwartv0.16.20 ⚡
- 1mo agoStalwartv0.16.19
- 1mo agoStalwartv0.16.18
- 1mo agoStalwartv0.16.17
- 2mo agoStalwartv0.16.16
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Element and Stalwart?
Both compete on the same themes — self-hosted — within Comms. Stalwart is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 5.0), 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 better than Stalwart?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Stalwart is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 5.0), 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 Stalwart?
Top Stalwart alternatives in Comms are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Stalwart alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/stalwart for the full list with editorial commentary on each.