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Alternative Clients

While Element is the flagship, these alternatives offer unique features and experiences.

Desktop Clients​

Cinny​

The Discord-like experience

# Web
https://app.cinny.in

# Desktop (various)
https://github.com/cinnyapp/cinny-desktop/releases

Standout Features:

  • Beautiful, modern UI
  • Discord-style server/channel layout
  • Excellent keyboard navigation
  • Markdown preview while typing
  • Custom emoji support
  • Threads support
  • Spaces hierarchy

v4+ Features (2025):

  • Custom power levels - Set specific levels for any action
  • Developer tools - Explore room state and events
  • Improved notifications - Better push notification support
  • Custom emojis - Native emoji pack support
  • Better accessibility - Screen reader improvements

Power User Tips:

  • Ctrl + K - Quick room switcher
  • Ctrl + Shift + E - Emoji picker
  • Create custom themes via CSS
  • Use /devtools for state exploration
  • Right-click for power level management
Hidden Gem

Cinny supports custom CSS themes. Access via Settings → Appearance → Custom CSS. Community themes: github.com/nichobi/cinny-theme

Nheko​

Native Qt client for Linux/Mac/Windows

# Linux (Flatpak)
flatpak install flathub io.github.NhekoReborn.Nheko

# macOS
brew install nheko

# Arch Linux
pacman -S nheko

Standout Features:

  • Native performance (C++/Qt)
  • Low resource usage (~100MB RAM)
  • Video calls via GStreamer
  • System tray integration
  • Good screen reader support

Power User Tips:

  • Configure via ~/.config/nheko/nheko.conf
  • Enable GIF search in settings
  • Use system proxy settings

Fractal​

GNOME's Matrix client

# Flatpak (recommended)
flatpak install flathub org.gnome.Fractal

Standout Features:

  • Native GNOME integration
  • GTK4 + Rust (Fractal 5+)
  • Clean, minimal interface
  • Good performance

Best For: GNOME desktop users wanting native integration

Quaternion​

Qt-based client with unique features

# Flatpak
flatpak install flathub com.github.nichobi.quaternion

Standout Features:

  • Timeline as actual timeline (not chat bubbles)
  • Built on libQuotient
  • Lightweight
  • Good for developers

Mobile Clients​

FluffyChat​

The friendly Matrix client

Standout Features:

  • Stories (like Instagram/WhatsApp)
  • Very beginner-friendly
  • Works offline
  • Multiple accounts
  • Built with Flutter (cross-platform)

Power User Tips:

  • Long-press messages for reactions
  • Enable "Developer Mode" for extra options
  • Use the web version for quick access: fluffychat.im/web

SchildiChat​

Element with superpowers

Standout Features:

  • Unified chat list (DMs + rooms together)
  • Message bubbles toggle
  • Compact mode
  • More themes
  • All Element features plus extras

Power User Tips:

  • Enable "Developer options" for verbose logs
  • Try "Unified inbox" view
  • Custom accent colors available

Element X​

The future of Element

Built on matrix-rust-sdk for incredible performance.

Standout Features:

  • Blazing fast sync
  • Modern UI/UX
  • Native Rust performance
  • Sliding sync support

Note: Still in development, some features missing compared to Element.

Terminal Clients​

gomuks​

Terminal client written in Go - now with web frontend!

# Install
go install maunium.net/go/gomuks@latest

# Or download binary
https://github.com/gomuks/gomuks/releases

Features:

  • Full TUI (terminal UI)
  • New: Web frontend - Access via browser
  • E2EE support
  • Image preview (in supported terminals)
  • Vim-like keybindings
  • Low resource usage

Web Frontend (New!):

# Start gomuks with web server
gomuks --web-listen :8080

# Access in browser
http://localhost:8080

The web frontend provides a modern UI while using gomuks as the backend - best of both worlds.

Commands:

/join #room:server    - Join room
/leave                - Leave current room
/send filename        - Send file
/toggle markdown      - Toggle markdown
/export [format]      - Export room history
/rainbow text         - Send rainbow-colored text

Power User Features:

  • Export room history to JSON
  • Set power levels: /op @user:server 50
  • Custom keybindings via config
  • Multiple accounts support

iamb​

Modal Matrix client (Vim-like)

cargo install iamb

Features:

  • Modal editing (like Vim)
  • Multiple windows/tabs
  • Highly keyboard-driven
  • Rust-based

For: Vim enthusiasts who want a modal Matrix experience

weechat-matrix​

Matrix protocol for WeeChat

# Install script
/script install matrix.py

Features:

  • Integrates with WeeChat
  • Familiar IRC-style interface
  • E2EE via pantalaimon
  • Highly scriptable

All-in-One Solutions​

Beeper​

Unified messaging via Matrix bridges

Beeper is a commercial service that bridges all your messaging apps through Matrix:

Supported Platforms:

  • iMessage, SMS (via phone/Mac)
  • WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram
  • Slack, Discord, Instagram
  • LinkedIn, Twitter/X DMs
  • And more...

How It Works:

  1. Sign up at beeper.com
  2. Connect your accounts
  3. All messages appear in one inbox
  4. Uses Matrix protocol underneath

Features:

  • Unified inbox for all messengers
  • Search across all platforms
  • Desktop and mobile apps
  • Schedule messages
  • Archive functionality

Self-Hosting Alternative:

Use mautrix bridges with your own homeserver:

# Deploy bridges via matrix-docker-ansible-deploy
ansible-playbook -i inventory/hosts setup.yml --tags=setup-all

Bridges available:

  • mautrix-whatsapp
  • mautrix-telegram
  • mautrix-signal
  • mautrix-discord
  • mautrix-instagram
  • mautrix-twitter

Beeper vs Self-Hosted:

FeatureBeeperSelf-Hosted
SetupEasy (managed)Complex
CostSubscriptionFree (server costs)
ControlLimitedFull
iMessage✅ (needs Mac/phone)✅ (needs Mac/phone)
PrivacyTrust BeeperSelf-controlled

Special Purpose Clients​

Hydrogen​

Lightweight web client

Best For:

  • Slow connections
  • Older devices
  • Embedding in other apps
  • Quick access without full client

Syphon​

Privacy-focused mobile client

  • Platforms: Android, iOS

Features:

  • Tor support
  • No Google services required
  • Local notifications only
  • Privacy-first design

Neochat​

KDE's Matrix client

flatpak install flathub org.kde.neochat

Features:

  • Native KDE/Plasma integration
  • Kirigami UI (works on mobile too)
  • Good Plasma Mobile support

Client Feature Matrix​

FeatureCinnyNhekoFluffyChatgomuks
E2EE✅✅✅✅
Spaces✅🔄🔄❌
Threads✅❌❌❌
VoIP❌✅✅❌
Widgets❌❌❌❌
Stories❌❌✅❌
Custom Themes✅✅✅✅

Recommendations by Use Case​

Use CaseRecommended Client
Daily driver (full-featured)Element, SchildiChat
Speed & simplicityCinny, Element X
Privacy maximumSyphon, FluffyChat
Linux nativeNheko, Fractal
KDE PlasmaNeochat
Terminal/SSHgomuks, iamb
Low bandwidthHydrogen
Multi-accountFluffyChat

Next: Client Comparison →