MEETINGS
3CX is opening the PBX to agents while its feed fills with awards and academy news
Alternatives · video conferencing tools
Element Call alternatives
The best Element Call alternatives in video conferencing tools, ranked by Sparkpulse's velocity_score.
Updated Sep 15, 2026
Looking for the best alternatives to Element Call? Sparkpulse tracks and ranks 12 alternatives in video conferencing tools by shipping velocity — how frequently each ships meaningful updates, verified from official changelogs. For reference, Element Call shipped 1 meaningful update in the last 30 days and carries a velocity score of 6.3 out of 10 in 2026. The alternatives below are ranked the same way, so you're comparing real release momentum, not marketing claims.
About Element Call
Element Call is removing its legacy architecture — the federated multi-SFU model is now the only option.
Element Call has spent the last two months removing compatibility scaffolding: MatrixRTC legacy mode (v0.25.0) and .well-known transport discovery (v0.24.0) are both gone. Every participant now connects to their homeserver's SFU with no fallback to the old negotiated single-SFU model. React Compiler is enabled for rendering performance, and media quality settings got a dedicated UI in v0.24.0. The RC release cadence is high while stable releases remain patch-focused.
Velocity 6.3 · Last update 6d ago
Top 12 alternatives to Element Call
Ranked by recent ship velocity. Tap any card for the full editorial breakdown, or pivot to a head-to-head.
MEETINGS
Fourwaves adds custom domain support for event websites, removing the hosted-subdomain constraint for conference organizers
MEETINGS
BigBlueButton 4.0 enters release candidate with LiveKit fully replacing the legacy audio stack.
MEETINGS
Nextcloud Talk v25 adds classified conversations and an owner role, targeting regulated enterprise deployments.
MEETINGS
Switcher Studio adds Instant Replay — a live broadcasting capability that finally closes the gap with dedicated sports streaming rigs.
MEETINGS
Wowza is rebuilding around one idea: run computer vision inside the streaming pipeline.
MEETINGS
HOMER patches DuckDB storage reliability and restores multi-value search while fixing admin dashboard sharing
MEETINGS
JW Player automates CMAF rendition ladders and sharpens ad attribution by player and placement
MEETINGS
Nextcloud Talk Desktop is approaching Talk v25 stable while its July managed-config feature unlocks enterprise mass deployment for the first time.
MEETINGS
Greenlight 3.9 makes URL_HOST mandatory, forcing admin action on every self-hosted deployment.
MEETINGS
Restream is pushing into professional broadcast territory — Edit mode, X analytics, and MCP automation extend its platform significantly.
MEETINGS
Jitsi rearchitects transcription and adds Document PiP as GSoC 2026 projects ship
Element Call vs alternatives — shipping velocity at a glance
Velocity score (0–10) and meaningful releases shipped in the last 30 days, from official changelogs. Higher = shipping faster.
| Product | Velocity | Sparks · 30d | Focus areas | Latest release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Element Call (baseline) | 6.3 | 1 | federated-callingmatrix-rtcmulti-sfu | Element Call v0.25.0 removes MatrixRTC legacy mode, requiring full multi-SFU migration |
| 3CX | 7.5 | 1 | voipself-hostedmcp | 3CX MCP Server: Manage Your PBX With AI |
| Fourwaves | 6.3 | 1 | event-managementconference-softwarecustom-domain | Organizers can now connect their own domain to event websites |
| BigBlueButton | 6.3 | 1 | video-conferencingopen-sourcelivekit-migration | BigBlueButton 4.0-rc.1: LiveKit becomes sole audio source, multi-room sessions land |
| Nextcloud Talk | 6.3 | 0 | collaborationenterprise-messagingcompliance | Nextcloud Talk v25 alpha: classified conversations, owner role, global search |
| Switcher Studio | 6.3 | 1 | live-streamingsports-broadcastinginstant-replay | Your Best Play, Twice: Instant Replay for Switcher Is Live |
| Wowza | 6.3 | 0 | video-intelligencecomputer-visionsynthetic-media | How NVIDIA And Wowza Are Detecting Synthetic Video In Live Streams |
| HOMER | 5.0 | 0 | voip-monitoringsip-captureducklake | — |
| JW Player | 5.0 | 0 | vertical-videoad-analyticscmaf | Automatic rendition creation for CMAF VOD |
| Nextcloud Talk Desktop | 5.0 | 0 | self-hostedcommunicationenterprise-mdm | v2.2.1 - Talk v24.0.2 |
| Greenlight | 5.0 | 0 | video-conferencingbigbluebuttonself-hosted | — |
| Restream | 5.0 | 0 | live-streamingmcp-automationstudio-production | Meet Edit mode in Studio |
| Jitsi | 5.0 | 0 | video-conferencingopen-sourcetranscription | — |
The 12 best Element Call alternatives, in depth
1. 3CX · velocity 7.5
3CX is opening the PBX to agents while its feed fills with awards and academy news.
Over the last 30 days 3CX shipped 1 meaningful update vs Element Call's 1, most recently “3CX MCP Server: Manage Your PBX With AI”. Its velocity score of 7.5/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where Element Call leans on federated calling, matrix rtc and multi sfu, 3CX focuses on voip, self hosted and mcp.
3CX and Element Call have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
2. Fourwaves · velocity 6.3
Fourwaves adds custom domain support for event websites, removing the hosted-subdomain constraint for conference organizers.
Over the last 30 days Fourwaves shipped 1 meaningful update vs Element Call's 1, most recently “Organizers can now connect their own domain to event websites”. Its velocity score of 6.3/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where Element Call leans on federated calling, matrix rtc and multi sfu, Fourwaves focuses on event management, conference software and custom domain.
Fourwaves and Element Call have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full Fourwaves trajectory → · Compare Element Call vs Fourwaves →
3. BigBlueButton · velocity 6.3
BigBlueButton 4.0 enters release candidate with LiveKit fully replacing the legacy audio stack.
Over the last 30 days BigBlueButton shipped 1 meaningful update vs Element Call's 1, most recently “BigBlueButton 4.0-rc.1: LiveKit becomes sole audio source, multi-room sessions land”. Its velocity score of 6.3/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where Element Call leans on federated calling, matrix rtc and multi sfu, BigBlueButton focuses on video conferencing, open source and livekit migration.
BigBlueButton and Element Call have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full BigBlueButton trajectory → · Compare Element Call vs BigBlueButton →
4. Nextcloud Talk · velocity 6.3
Nextcloud Talk v25 adds classified conversations and an owner role, targeting regulated enterprise deployments.
Over the last 30 days Nextcloud Talk shipped 0 meaningful updates vs Element Call's 1, most recently “Nextcloud Talk v25 alpha: classified conversations, owner role, global search”. Its velocity score of 6.3/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where Element Call leans on federated calling, matrix rtc and multi sfu, Nextcloud Talk focuses on collaboration, enterprise messaging and compliance.
Nextcloud Talk has shipped fewer meaningful updates than Element Call in the last 30 days, so weigh it on fit and feature depth rather than recent pace.
Full Nextcloud Talk trajectory → · Compare Element Call vs Nextcloud Talk →
5. Switcher Studio · velocity 6.3
Switcher Studio adds Instant Replay — a live broadcasting capability that finally closes the gap with dedicated sports streaming rigs.
Over the last 30 days Switcher Studio shipped 1 meaningful update vs Element Call's 1, most recently “Your Best Play, Twice: Instant Replay for Switcher Is Live”. Its velocity score of 6.3/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where Element Call leans on federated calling, matrix rtc and multi sfu, Switcher Studio focuses on live streaming, sports broadcasting and instant replay.
Switcher Studio and Element Call have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full Switcher Studio trajectory → · Compare Element Call vs Switcher Studio →
6. Wowza · velocity 6.3
Wowza is rebuilding around one idea: run computer vision inside the streaming pipeline.
Over the last 30 days Wowza shipped 0 meaningful updates vs Element Call's 1, most recently “How NVIDIA And Wowza Are Detecting Synthetic Video In Live Streams”. Its velocity score of 6.3/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where Element Call leans on federated calling, matrix rtc and multi sfu, Wowza focuses on video intelligence, computer vision and synthetic media.
Wowza has shipped fewer meaningful updates than Element Call in the last 30 days, so weigh it on fit and feature depth rather than recent pace.
7. HOMER · velocity 5.0
HOMER patches DuckDB storage reliability and restores multi-value search while fixing admin dashboard sharing.
Over the last 30 days HOMER shipped 0 meaningful updates vs Element Call's 1. Its velocity score of 5.0/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where Element Call leans on federated calling, matrix rtc and multi sfu, HOMER focuses on voip monitoring, sip capture and ducklake.
HOMER has shipped fewer meaningful updates than Element Call in the last 30 days, so weigh it on fit and feature depth rather than recent pace.
8. JW Player · velocity 5.0
JW Player automates CMAF rendition ladders and sharpens ad attribution by player and placement.
Over the last 30 days JW Player shipped 0 meaningful updates vs Element Call's 1, most recently “Automatic rendition creation for CMAF VOD”. Its velocity score of 5.0/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where Element Call leans on federated calling, matrix rtc and multi sfu, JW Player focuses on vertical video, ad analytics and cmaf.
JW Player has shipped fewer meaningful updates than Element Call in the last 30 days, so weigh it on fit and feature depth rather than recent pace.
Full JW Player trajectory → · Compare Element Call vs JW Player →
9. Nextcloud Talk Desktop · velocity 5.0
Nextcloud Talk Desktop is approaching Talk v25 stable while its July managed-config feature unlocks enterprise mass deployment for the first time.
Over the last 30 days Nextcloud Talk Desktop shipped 0 meaningful updates vs Element Call's 1, most recently “v2.2.1 - Talk v24.0.2”. Its velocity score of 5.0/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where Element Call leans on federated calling, matrix rtc and multi sfu, Nextcloud Talk Desktop focuses on self hosted, communication and enterprise mdm.
Nextcloud Talk Desktop has shipped fewer meaningful updates than Element Call in the last 30 days, so weigh it on fit and feature depth rather than recent pace.
Full Nextcloud Talk Desktop trajectory → · Compare Element Call vs Nextcloud Talk Desktop →
10. Greenlight · velocity 5.0
Greenlight 3.9 makes URL_HOST mandatory, forcing admin action on every self-hosted deployment.
Over the last 30 days Greenlight shipped 0 meaningful updates vs Element Call's 1. Its velocity score of 5.0/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where Element Call leans on federated calling, matrix rtc and multi sfu, Greenlight focuses on video conferencing, bigbluebutton and self hosted.
Greenlight has shipped fewer meaningful updates than Element Call in the last 30 days, so weigh it on fit and feature depth rather than recent pace.
Full Greenlight trajectory → · Compare Element Call vs Greenlight →
11. Restream · velocity 5.0
Restream is pushing into professional broadcast territory — Edit mode, X analytics, and MCP automation extend its platform significantly.
Over the last 30 days Restream shipped 0 meaningful updates vs Element Call's 1, most recently “Meet Edit mode in Studio ”. Its velocity score of 5.0/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where Element Call leans on federated calling, matrix rtc and multi sfu, Restream focuses on live streaming, mcp automation and studio production.
Restream has shipped fewer meaningful updates than Element Call in the last 30 days, so weigh it on fit and feature depth rather than recent pace.
Full Restream trajectory → · Compare Element Call vs Restream →
12. Jitsi · velocity 5.0
Jitsi rearchitects transcription and adds Document PiP as GSoC 2026 projects ship.
Over the last 30 days Jitsi shipped 0 meaningful updates vs Element Call's 1. Its velocity score of 5.0/10 blends that with longer-term release cadence.
Where Element Call leans on federated calling, matrix rtc and multi sfu, Jitsi focuses on video conferencing, open source and transcription.
Jitsi has shipped fewer meaningful updates than Element Call in the last 30 days, so weigh it on fit and feature depth rather than recent pace.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best alternatives to Element Call?
The top Element Call alternatives we currently track in video conferencing tools are 3CX, Fourwaves, BigBlueButton, Nextcloud Talk, Switcher Studio, ranked by recent ship velocity.
How is this list of Element Call alternatives ranked?
Alternatives are ranked by Sparkpulse's velocity_score — release cadence + 30-day spark count + sector-relative ship rate.
Can I compare Element Call directly with one of these alternatives?
Yes — every card has a "Compare with Element Call" link to a side-by-side /compare page.