Element vs Mattermost

Element9.1Visit Mattermost8.9Visit

Higher score Element #3 in Business Instant Messaging - Enterprise Software 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Element

vs

Mattermost #4 in Business Instant Messaging - Enterprise Software 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Mattermost

• Element fits best

  Security-focused teams needing deployment control

• Mattermost fits best

  Open-source teams needing enterprise control

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Side by side

Feature	Element 9.1/10 Visit ↗	Mattermost 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.1	8.9
Ranking	#3 in Business Instant Messaging - Enterprise Software	#4 in Business Instant Messaging - Enterprise Software
Best for	Security-focused teams needing deployment control	Open-source teams needing enterprise control
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	—	—
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile	Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Community, Docs	Email, Tickets, Community, Docs
Compliance	ISO 27001	ISO 27001, GDPR
Integrations	13 integrations	700+ integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Element 1/4 · Mattermost 1/4
Guest access	✓	✓
Single sign-on	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Retention controls	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Mobile apps	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Message history	Unlimited	Unlimited
Group size limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	End-to-end encrypted messaging with cross-signed device verification Self-hosted and air-gapped deployment options Unlimited history, broad clients, and third-party bridges	Public and private channels, threads, and searchable message and file history Self-hosted deployment plus web, desktop, and mobile clients Integrations, APIs, bots, and workflow automation for technical teams
Cons	Uses rooms and spaces rather than conventional channels Enterprise and Sovereign pricing requires contacting sales The Community plan is self-hosted, not a managed deployment	Professional and Enterprise pricing is contact-based Advanced collaboration controls and AI features are limited to Enterprise May be more than teams need if they only want straightforward messaging
Our verdict	Element combines messaging and collaboration on the Matrix open standard, with end-to-end encryption, rooms and spaces, direct messages, and voice and video calls. It suits organizations that want control over where messaging… Read the review →	Mattermost is an open-core messaging and collaboration platform for technical, operational, government, defense, and critical-infrastructure teams. It brings together public and private channels, direct and group messaging, threaded… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Element — where it wins

  • End-to-end encrypted messaging with cross-signed device verification
  • Self-hosted and air-gapped deployment options
  • Unlimited history, broad clients, and third-party bridges

  Where it doesn't

  • Uses rooms and spaces rather than conventional channels
  • Enterprise and Sovereign pricing requires contacting sales
  • The Community plan is self-hosted, not a managed deployment

• Mattermost — where it wins

  • Public and private channels, threads, and searchable message and file history
  • Self-hosted deployment plus web, desktop, and mobile clients
  • Integrations, APIs, bots, and workflow automation for technical teams

  Where it doesn't

  • Professional and Enterprise pricing is contact-based
  • Advanced collaboration controls and AI features are limited to Enterprise
  • May be more than teams need if they only want straightforward messaging

• Element9.1/10 · Free plan

  A Matrix-based messenger for teams that need encryption and deployment control.

  Visit ElementFull verdict →
• Mattermost8.9/10 · Free plan

  A flexible messaging platform for teams that need self-hosting, channels, and operational integrations.

  Visit MattermostFull verdict →