Element
Element: A privacy-focused, open-source chat platform for teams needing control and federation. Ranked #12 of 63 in Team Chat Apps by our editors (8.1/10); pricing: Free plan; best for privacy-focused and sovereign teams.
At a glance
- Editor score8.1 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forPrivacy-focused and sovereign teams
- Free planYes
- Guest accessYes
- Founded2017 · United Kingdom
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- End-to-end encryption is enabled by default
- Self-hosted and air-gapped deployment options
- Rooms, calls, search, federation and integrations included
Where it doesn't
- Enterprise budgeting depends on per-seat/month pricing
- Community is intended for non-professional use and evaluations
- Its broad deployment model may require more administration
Our verdict on Element
Element is an end-to-end encrypted messaging and collaboration application for individuals, teams, organisations and public-sector users. Built on the decentralised Matrix open standard, it combines direct messaging, rooms, Spaces, file sharing, voice and video calls, search, threads, reactions and message editing. Support for web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android makes it suitable for distributed teams, while federation connects separate Matrix networks and organisations.
The pricing structure separates free community use from professional deployment. Community includes self-hosted open-source software under AGPL, a free frontend and backend, and Element Call; it is intended for non-professional deployments and evaluations. Enterprise adds Element Server Suite Pro, Synapse Pro, enhanced security and support, corporate oversight and control, and dynamic scaling, with pricing set per seat/month. Sovereign adds air-gapped deployment, a dedicated mobile push gateway and operation without internet connectivity. Teams should choose Community for evaluation or non-professional use, and consider the paid tiers when governance, support or isolated operation matters.
Element’s main distinction is the combination of privacy controls and deployment choice. Device verification, secure backup and default end-to-end encryption support security-conscious teams, while self-hosting and federation provide control over infrastructure and organisational boundaries. Integrations include Etherpad, Grafana, Google Calendar, Jitsi, GitHub, GitLab, JIRA, Webhooks and other widgets or bots. That breadth suits organisations seeking an open Matrix-based workspace rather than a narrowly focused chat tool. Teams wanting a simpler managed experience, less administrative responsibility or a conventional hosted-only model may prefer an alternative.
Your product? Our editors can test Element in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Element pricing
All 3 Element plans and prices →
Element fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Channels | No |
| Guest access | Yes |
| Message history | Unlimited |
| Integrations | Etherpad, Grafana, Google Calendar, Jitsi, Spotify, YouTube, Ethercalc, TradingView, GitHub, RSS Bot, GitLab, Jira, Webhooks |
| Supported platforms | web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, self-hosted |
| Maximum members | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Compliance & security | ISO 27001 |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 13 integrations: Etherpad, Grafana, Google Calendar, Jitsi, Spotify, YouTube … See all → |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | element.io |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Element integrations
Element lists 13 integrations on its own site.
- Etherpad
- Grafana
- Google Calendar
- Jitsi
- Spotify
- YouTube
- Ethercalc
- TradingView
- GitHub
- RSS Bot
- GitLab
- Jira
- Webhooks
See all Element integrations →
Alternatives to Element
- Microsoft TeamsA broad team chat workspace with a free plan and deep Microsoft 365 integration.9.4
- SlackA capable team-chat hub for integration-heavy teams, with limited free history.9.3
- Zoho CliqA broad team chat suite with strong Zoho ecosystem fit and a capable free plan.9.1
See all Element alternatives →
Also Ranked In
Element is ranked in 15 of our directories; the 6 strongest besides Team Chat Apps.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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