Secure communications platform
Visit WebsiteThe Bottom Line
Entry price
From $5/mo (free plan available)
Biggest pro
Open source
Biggest con
Less polished UX
TL;DR - Element
- Element is a secure messaging app built on the Matrix protocol for decentralized communication
- It provides end-to-end encrypted chat, voice, and video with self-hosting options
- Free for personal use, Enterprise plans with custom pricing
What is Element?
Available on: Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Open source
- End-to-end encryption
- Self-hostable
Cons
- Less polished UX
- Smaller community
Ratings Across the Web
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Key Features
Pricing Plans
Free TrialPricing checked May 29, 2026
Free
Free
Personal use
- Unlimited messages
- 1:1 video calls
- End-to-end encryption
- matrix.org hosting
Pro
$5/per user/month
Teams
- Admin controls
- Guest access
- Compliance tools
- Priority support
Enterprise
null
Organizations
- Self-hosting option
- SSO/SAML
- Audit logs
- Dedicated support
How Element's pricing compares
At $5/mo, Element is mid-range of its 3 direct competitors ($0.67 to $10/mo across the set).
Entry paid plan, monthly. Pricing checked May 29, 2026.
Reviews
Across 10 verified user reviews on Capterra
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Element FAQ
Is Element secure?
Source: element.io