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Element.io VS Makerkit.dev

Compare Element.io VS Makerkit.dev and see what are their differences

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Contents:
  1. ยป Base Details
  2. ยป Videos
  3. ยป Reviews
  4. ยป Alternatives

Element.io logo Element.io

Secure messaging app with strong end-to-end encryption, advanced group chat privacy settings, secure video calls for teams, encrypted communication using Matrix open network. Riot.im is now Element.

Makerkit.dev logo Makerkit.dev

MakerKit is a SaaS Starter Kit for Next.js, Remix, Firebase and Supabase. Build unlimited SaaS products in record time with the best SaaS Boilerplate.
  • Element.io Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-20
  • Makerkit.dev Dashboard
    Dashboard //
    2024-12-07
  • Makerkit.dev Choose Plan
    Choose Plan //
    2024-12-07
  • Makerkit.dev Landing Page
    Landing Page //
    2024-12-07
  • Makerkit.dev Pricing
    Pricing //
    2024-12-07

Makerkit is a production-ready SaaS starter kit built with Next.js App Router and Supabase that helps developers launch faster.

It provides a robust foundation with built-in authentication, team management, billing integration, and Super Admin - all powered by a modular architecture that makes customization and maintenance a breeze.

Whether you're building a B2B or B2C application, Makerkit handles the complex infrastructure so you can focus on building your product's unique features using modern tools like TypeScript, React, and Tailwind CSS.

Element.io

Website
about.riot.im
Pricing URL
-
$ Details
free
Startup details
Country
United Kingdom
Edit details

Makerkit.dev

Website
makerkit.dev
Pricing URL
Official Makerkit.dev Pricing
$ Details
$299.0 / One-off
Startup details
Country
Singapore
Founder(s)
Giancarlo Buomprisco
Employees
1 - 9
Edit details

Element.io features and specs

  • Open Source
    Element.io is open-source, meaning the code is freely accessible and can be modified by anyone. This allows for transparency, security audits, and customization.
  • Privacy and Security
    Element.io offers end-to-end encryption for secure communication, ensuring that only the intended recipients can read the messages.
  • Interoperability
    It supports the Matrix protocol, which allows for communication across different platforms and services, facilitating greater connectivity.
  • Rich Feature Set
    Element.io provides features such as voice and video calls, file sharing, and integrations with other services, making it suitable for both personal and team use.
  • Cross-Platform
    Available on various platforms including web, desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux), and mobile (iOS, Android), ensuring accessibility from any device.
  • Customizability
    Users can personalize their experience through various settings and even set up their own server for full control over their data.

Possible disadvantages of Element.io

  • Complexity
    The extensive feature set and customization options can be overwhelming for new users, leading to a steeper learning curve.
  • Performance Issues
    Users have reported occasional performance issues such as slow response times and lag, particularly in larger rooms or with heavy media use.
  • User Interface
    While functional, the user interface may not be as polished or intuitive as other more mainstream messaging apps, which could impact usability.
  • Server Setup
    Setting up your own server for complete data control requires technical expertise and can be time-consuming, posing a barrier for non-technical users.
  • Limited Network Effect
    Despite its capabilities, Element.io has a smaller user base compared to giants like WhatsApp or Slack, which may limit its usefulness for some users.
  • Resource Intensive
    The application can be resource-intensive, particularly on older hardware, which may result in slower performance or increased battery consumption on mobile devices.

Makerkit.dev features and specs

  • Marketing Pages
    Landing page, pricing, FAQ, and other marketing pages included
  • Blog and Documentation
    Full-featured blog/documentation system with CMS integration
  • Authentication
    Complete auth system with email, OAuth, and MFA support
  • Billing
    Integrated payment system with Stripe and Lemon Squeezy support
  • Super Admin
    Admin dashboard to manage users, subscriptions and content
  • Translations (i18n)
    Multi-language support
  • Organizations/Teams
    Team management with roles and permissions system
  • Plugins
    Non-core functionality included as plugins: Testimonials, Roadmap, AI Chatbot, Waitlist

Analysis of Element.io

Overall verdict

  • Element.io is a good choice for those looking for a secure and privacy-focused communication platform with rich features and high customizability. Its open-source nature and ability to integrate with other services enhance its appeal to a wide range of users.

Why this product is good

  • Element.io, previously known as Riot.im, is considered a good platform due to its focus on security and privacy, offering end-to-end encryption for conversations. It is built on the Matrix protocol, which supports decentralized communication, making it a versatile and open-source choice for both individual and group communication. It is designed for interoperability and can integrate with other messaging and collaboration platforms. Additionally, it offers extensive customization options and support for both text and voice/video communications.

Recommended for

    Element.io is highly recommended for privacy-conscious users, open-source enthusiasts, tech-savvy individuals, organizations seeking secure internal communication channels, and communities needing decentralized and customizable messaging solutions.

Analysis of Makerkit.dev

Overall verdict

  • Makerkit.dev is a solid, well-built SaaS starter kit that helps developers skip weeks of boilerplate setup by providing production-ready authentication, billing, and multi-tenancy features out of the box.

Why this product is good

  • Provides pre-built, production-ready SaaS boilerplate covering authentication, subscriptions, and team/organization management
  • Supports popular modern stacks like Next.js, Remix, Supabase, and Firebase
  • Saves significant development time by eliminating repetitive setup and configuration work
  • Comes with documentation, active maintenance, and community support
  • Includes billing integration with providers like Stripe and Lemon Squeezy
  • Built with TypeScript and modern best practices for maintainable, scalable code

Recommended for

  • Solo developers and indie hackers looking to launch a SaaS product quickly
  • Startups wanting to validate ideas without building infrastructure from scratch
  • Development teams needing a reliable, well-structured foundation for multi-tenant apps
  • Developers already familiar with Next.js, Remix, Supabase, or Firebase
  • Anyone wanting to avoid reinventing authentication and billing systems

Element.io videos

+ Add

RIOT : Riot.im : A New World Of Open Communication!

Makerkit.dev videos

No Makerkit.dev videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Element.io and Makerkit.dev)

Element.io

Makerkit.dev

Communication
100 100%
Communication
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
Developer Tools
100% 100
Group Chat & Notifications
100 100%
Group Chat & Notifications
0% 0
Boilerplate
0 0%
Boilerplate
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Element.io and Makerkit.dev.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Makerkit.dev's answer:

Indie Hackers and Companies who want to launch quickly, without compromising on quality.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

Makerkit.dev's answer:

Makerkit uses Next.js 15 (App Router), Supabase, React.js, Typescript and Stripe.

What makes your product unique?

Makerkit.dev's answer:

Makerkit stands out by offering a truly modular architecture built with Turborepo, where core features like auth, billing, and notifications live in their own packages for better maintainability.

While most starters lock you into specific patterns or providers, Makerkit gives you flexibility with a multi-account system supporting both B2B and B2C scenarios, provider-agnostic billing, and edge-ready deployment options.

Beyond the basics, it includes production-ready features like multi-factor auth, real-time notifications, and team permissions - all built with Supabase, TypeScript, React Query, and modern tooling to make development a genuine pleasure.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Makerkit.dev's answer:

While other starters give you basic auth and a dashboard, Makerkit provides a genuinely modular foundation with the real features SaaS products need - like multi-factor auth, team permissions, real-time notifications, and provider-agnostic billing, all organized in clean, maintainable packages using Turborepo.

You get a first-class developer experience with TypeScript, React Query, and modern tooling, plus the flexibility to support both B2B and B2C scenarios, different payment providers, and edge deployment options.

Best of all, Makerkit is actively maintained with regular updates and responsive support, so you're building on a foundation that grows with your needs rather than painting yourself into a corner.

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Element.io and Makerkit.dev

Element.io Reviews

Top 7 Best Open Source Skype Alternatives In 2025
You can get Element for both desktop and mobile, with apps being made available for Linux, Android, Windows, iOS, and macOS. There is also Element web if you don't prefer installing apps.
Source: itsfoss.com
7 best Mattermost alternatives for secure business messaging
Element is a secure messaging and communication software that operates based on the Matrix protocol. It has advanced features that promote internal collaboration and boost team productivity. It offers end-to-end encryption and supports communication through messages, voice, and video calls.
Source: www.rocket.chat
10 Best Secure Messaging Apps to Keep Your Conversation Private
Element.io, which was earlier known as Riot, is a secure chat app that is built around protecting user privacy. It offers end-to-end encryption out of the box, which means that your conversations are fully encrypted and only the sender and receiver can read the messages. After the transition from Rio to Element, the secure messaging app has become more enterprise-friendly.
Source: beebom.com
18 Best Discord Alternatives 2020 | Expert Reviews
Element, formerly known as Riot, is a great alternative to Discord with many of the same features and functions. What sets Element apart is that it was created using open-source software, which allows for customization and flexibility. Element is based on a reaction-based software called Matrix, which allows you to bring other communication channels into the app as well as...
Source: solutionsuggest.com
5 best secure private messengers
Neither Riot nor Matrix have been fully audited, although Olm and Megolm have been. Riot.im has been criticized the past for its rather basic user interface, but this no longer true. It still lags behind the futuristic flashiness of Wire, but Riot is now a highly capable messenger with functionality often compared to the corporate messaging workhorse, Slack.
Source: proprivacy.com

Makerkit.dev Reviews

We have no reviews of Makerkit.dev yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Makerkit.dev should be more popular than Element.io. It has been mentiond 2 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Element.io mentions (1)

Makerkit.dev mentions (2)

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Element.io and Makerkit.dev, you can also consider the following products

Matrix.org - Matrix is an open standard for decentralized persistent communication over IP.

ShipFa.st - The NextJS boilerplate with all the stuff you need to get your product in front of customers. From idea to production in 5 minutes.

Telegram - Telegram is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security. Itโ€™s superfast, simple and free.

supastarter - The boilerplate for your next web app built on top of Supabase and Next.js.

Signal - Fast, simple & secure messaging. Privacy that fits in your pocket.

Nexty.dev - Launch your SaaS in days, not weeks. Nexty.dev is a production-ready Next.js and Supabase starter template for building modern SaaS applications. Launch your content, AI, or subscription service faster.

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