Element vs Bluesky
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A Vue 2 component library of ready-made UI pieces for building web apps.
Open source · MIT
The source code for the Bluesky social app, which runs on web, iOS, and Android.
The short answer
Choose Element if you need…
- Developers maintaining an existing Vue 2.x web application
- Teams building internal admin or back-office interfaces with Vue 2
- Developers who want prebuilt components with a documented API and themes
- Projects that need to support Internet Explorer 10+ alongside modern browsers
Choose Bluesky if you need…
- Developers who want to read how a production React Native app targets web and mobile from one codebase
- Developers studying a real-world client for the AT Protocol
- People who want to build a fork of the app, provided they follow the forking guidelines
- Contributors willing to open an issue for discussion before sending a pull request
Side-by-side
| Element | Bluesky | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 54k | 18.4k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Clone and build from source |
| Main language | Vue | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 2 years ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Element
Element is a UI toolkit for Vue.js 2.0 that provides a set of prebuilt interface components such as buttons, selects and other common web controls. Developers use it to build consistent web pages and admin-style interfaces without designing every component from scratch. The README says it will stay on Vue 2.x and points Vue 3 users to Element Plus.
Bluesky
This repository holds the code for the Bluesky social network app, built with React Native and TypeScript so one codebase can produce web, iOS, and Android versions. It uses the AT Protocol, an open decentralized social media protocol, and the README notes that you do not need to understand AT Protocol to work with the app. The public apps are available at bsky.app and in the App Store and Play Store.
Best for
Element
- Developers maintaining an existing Vue 2.x web application
- Teams building internal admin or back-office interfaces with Vue 2
- Developers who want prebuilt components with a documented API and themes
- Projects that need to support Internet Explorer 10+ alongside modern browsers
Bluesky
- Developers who want to read how a production React Native app targets web and mobile from one codebase
- Developers studying a real-world client for the AT Protocol
- People who want to build a fork of the app, provided they follow the forking guidelines
- Contributors willing to open an issue for discussion before sending a pull request
Strengths
Element
- Large, established project with 54,002 stars and an MIT license
- Documentation is available in English, Chinese, Spanish and French
- Supports both full-library and per-component imports
Bluesky
- MIT licensed source code, with a separate notice for third-party assets
- One TypeScript codebase targets web, iOS, and Android
- Builds on open atproto packages that live in a separate public repository
Not ideal for
Element
- New projects on Vue 3, because the README recommends Element Plus for Vue 3 instead
- Mini-program development, because the README recommends MorJS for that
- Designers looking for a visual tool rather than code components
Bluesky
- People who just want to use Bluesky: the README points to bsky.app and the app stores instead, since this is the source code
- Anyone wanting quick support for build problems, because the README says build issues will not get support
- Anyone planning a fork who ignores the asset rules, since some artwork, icons, fonts, and brand assets are not covered by the MIT license
Trade-offs
Element
- Locked to Vue 2.x; the README directs Vue 3 users elsewhere
- Latest release is v2.15.14 and the last push shown is from August 2024, so check current maintenance status before adopting
Bluesky
- Not all files are MIT licensed; artwork, icons, fonts, and brand assets have separate terms in ASSETS.md
- The maintainers say they may not respond to issues or pull requests and may close them without feedback
- The README does not describe the install steps in detail; it points to docs/build.md
Getting started
Bluesky
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/bluesky-social/social-appFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Element and Bluesky?
Element: A Vue 2 component library of ready-made UI pieces for building web apps. Bluesky: The source code for the Bluesky social app, which runs on web, iOS, and Android. Element suits developers maintaining an existing vue 2.x web application, while Bluesky suits developers who want to read how a production react native app targets web and mobile from one codebase.
Are Element and Bluesky free?
Element: Free and open source. Bluesky: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Element or Bluesky?
Element is easier to get started with (rated beginner); Bluesky is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Element or Bluesky more popular?
Element has more GitHub stars (54k) than Bluesky (18.4k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Element and Bluesky?
Other options people compare them with include Element Plus, BootstrapVue, PrimeVue, Vant, Mint UI.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.