Element

Element, known previously as Vector and Riot, is a Matrix web and desktop client built on the Matrix JS SDK. Conversations travel over an open federated protocol instead of one company's servers, so both the client and the homeserver behind it can be yours.

The repository is a monorepo. Element Web sits in its own subdirectory with separate documentation, the desktop build wraps the same application in Electron, and related projects live alongside them. A hosted copy exists for trying it without installing anything, and the develop branch is continuously deployed for those who like living dangerously.

Environment support is stated in tiers rather than left vague.

• Supported: the last two major versions of Chrome, Firefox and Edge on desktop operating systems, the last two Safari versions, and the latest Element Desktop release.
• Best effort: Firefox ESR and Chrome or Edge Extended Stable, where issues are accepted but regressions do not block a release.
• Community supported: mobile web on current stable Chrome, Firefox and Safari, where contributions are welcome.
• Not supported: everything else, with issues closed if they affect only those environments.

On phones the project points to the separate native Android and iOS apps rather than mobile web. Self-hosting is documented, as is building the desktop app yourself, and default settings can be overridden per install. The software is multi-licensed, free under AGPL-3.0 or GPL-3.0, or available under a paid commercial agreement.