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Comparison · Meetings
Element Call vs 3CX
A side-by-side editorial comparison of Element Call and 3CX — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Element Call vs 3CX: at a glance
What is Element Call?
Element Call moves to a multi-SFU architecture, ending per-call media-server negotiation
Element Call, the Matrix-native video calling app, is iterating quickly on RC builds and just made a structural change to how calls route media. The latest RC adopts a multi-SFU approach where each participant connects to the SFU tied to their own homeserver, while recent releases also steadily improve mobile layout, error reporting, and call reliability.
What is 3CX?
3CX is following its AI-heavy V20 Update 9 with a cross-platform client refresh and cheaper hosting.
3CX just shipped V20 Update 9, which brought Grok-powered transcription, AI assistants, and a redesigned web client. The current wave is downstream of that release: coordinated V5.6 builds of the softphone, iOS, and Android apps moving to production, plus plugin updates and a direct DATEV connector for the Windows app. It also cut hosted pricing for larger systems.
Element Call vs 3CX: editorial side-by-side
Element Call
6.3MEETINGS
Element Call moves to a multi-SFU architecture, ending per-call media-server negotiation
◆ Current state
Element Call, the Matrix-native video calling app, is iterating quickly on RC builds and just made a structural change to how calls route media. The latest RC adopts a multi-SFU approach where each participant connects to the SFU tied to their own homeserver, while recent releases also steadily improve mobile layout, error reporting, and call reliability.
◆ Where it's heading
The direction is federation-correct real-time media: rather than negotiating a single shared SFU per call, Element Call leans into Matrix's decentralized model by letting each homeserver own its participants' media and subscribing cross-server as needed. Around that, the team keeps polishing the mobile experience (edge-to-edge, portrait one-on-one layouts, PiP) and hardening LiveKit error handling.
◆ Prediction
Expect multi-SFU to graduate from RC to default with legacy single-SFU mode kept as a fallback, followed by continued work on cross-homeserver subscription reliability and mobile polish.
3CX
7.5MEETINGS
3CX is following its AI-heavy V20 Update 9 with a cross-platform client refresh and cheaper hosting.
◆ Current state
3CX just shipped V20 Update 9, which brought Grok-powered transcription, AI assistants, and a redesigned web client. The current wave is downstream of that release: coordinated V5.6 builds of the softphone, iOS, and Android apps moving to production, plus plugin updates and a direct DATEV connector for the Windows app. It also cut hosted pricing for larger systems.
◆ Where it's heading
The product is in a consolidation phase after a major AI-centric release, hardening its clients, extending integrations like DATEV, and trimming hosted pricing to stay competitive on VoIP. Expect the Update 9 AI features to keep propagating across the mobile and desktop apps, with more regional integrations following.
◆ Prediction
Next likely moves are additional Update 9 point releases and wider availability of the AI transcription and assistant features inside the mobile apps, on the heels of the V5.6 client rollout.
Alternatives to Element Call and 3CX
Other Meetings 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 Call or 3CX.
Digital Samba
A WebRTC video vendor whose feed is deep engineering essays, not release notes
Whereby
Whereby leans into embedded video as a developer platform via steady monthly SDK roundups
Muvi
Muvi keeps widening its all-in-one OTT suite across monetization, audio, and compliance.
BoxCast
BoxCast's feed is streaming/audio how-to content, not product release notes.
Evercast
Evercast's feed is a re-crawl of old blog posts, not product releases.
See all Element Call alternatives → · See all 3CX alternatives →
Recent activity from Element Call and 3CX
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 2d ago3CX3CX Softphone App V5.6
- 2d ago3CX3CX iOS App V5.6
- 2d ago3CX3CX Android App V5.6
- 4d agoElement Callv0.21.0-rc.1 ⚡
- 4d ago3CXLive Chat and WordPress Plugin Update
- 8d ago3CXConnect the 3CX Windows App Directly with DATEV
- 9d ago3CXV20 Update 9 Overview Webinar
- 17d agoElement Callv0.20.2-rc.1
- 1mo agoElement Callv0.20.1-rc.1
- 1mo agoElement Callv0.20.0-rc.1
- 1mo agoElement Callv0.19.3-rc1
- 2mo agoElement Callv0.19.2-rc.1
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Element Call and 3CX?
They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. 3CX is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 7.5 vs 6.3), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 1. See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.
Is Element Call better than 3CX?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. 3CX is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 7.5 vs 6.3), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 1. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Meetings products to evaluate alongside.
What are the best alternatives to Element Call?
Top Element Call alternatives in Meetings are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Element Call alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/element-call for the full list with editorial commentary on each.
What are the best alternatives to 3CX?
Top 3CX alternatives in Meetings are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "3CX alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/3cx for the full list with editorial commentary on each.