Jami vs Matrix (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Jami grades higher than Matrix: 3.2 against 3.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Jami grades higher on the free plan and ease of use. Matrix grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Which one is for you
Pick Jami if
- Fits if you want private calls and chat without an account on a company server
- Works for a small group on mixed Windows, Mac, Linux and phone devices
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you need channels, a directory or an admin console, as none are listed
- Skip it if you want a mature browser version, since the web version is a first preview as of September 2026
- Too light for company rollouts, as it is closer to a messenger than a workspace
- Watch out: the project runs on donations and is a GNU project of Savoir-faire Linux
Pick Matrix if
- Fits if you want chat that no single company controls
- Works for communities that want to run their own server
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want one app that behaves the same everywhere, since features depend on the client
- Tight if you share big files on the free homeserver, as attachments stop at 10MB
- Watch out: the matrix.org server is crowded and has usage limits
- Watch out: running your own homeserver, or paying a host, is a separate cost and effort the Foundation does not endorse
- Watch out: Element X is mobile only and Nheko is desktop only
How we grade them
| 3.2GPAJamiVery good | 3.0GPAMatrixVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree with no paid plans; the project asks for donations instead. | AThe protocol and its clients are free to use, and the Foundation runs a free public matrix.org homeserver. Free software anyone can use counts as free and substantial. |
| Free plan and trial | AEntirely free, and the site says there are no limits on file size, accounts or storage. | BThe free homeserver allows 10MB per attachment and 100MB of uploads per 24 hours, 500MB per 28 days. Most people get by, but heavy sharers hit it. |
| Features | CChat, group chat, audio and video calls and multiple devices per account. No admin console, directory or channels are listed, which most team chat tools have. | CFederation, a choice of clients, spaces, threads and bridges to Slack and Discord. Calls, threads and encryption depend on the client you pick, which is a gap. |
| Ease of use | BNo rating on record, but it is a program you install and use with nothing to set up. | CNo store rating on record. You pick a homeserver and a client before you start, so there is some learning. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android. Only a first preview of a web version, and no integrations listed. | AWeb, Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android clients exist, with bridges to Discord, Slack, Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp and Mattermost. Which platform a given client covers differs. |
| Best for | private peer-to-peer calls and chat | open, federated chat you can host yourself |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Jami and Matrix. How we grade
Price against what you get
Jami has no paid plan and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Matrix has no paid plan and scores 2.7.
On this chart the two sit in the same place: the same score for the same starting price. Of the other team communication apps on the chart, none scores higher than Jami for less, and none scores higher than Matrix for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Matrix is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Jami also covers video calls and file sharing.
In commonFree planWindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroidOpen sourceEnd-to-end encryptedTeam chat
At a glance
| Jami | Matrix | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | None | The protocol is free to use, and the Foundation runs a free public matrix.org homeserver with usage limits on attachments and data. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Savoir-faire Linux | The Matrix.org Foundation |
| Price read from | jami.net | matrix.org |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Jami
- The site lists no admin console, directory or team workspace features such as channels; it is closer to a messenger than a team chat suite.
- The vendor lists a first preview of Jami Web as of September 2026, so there is no mature browser version.
- The project is funded by donations and is a GNU project of Savoir-faire Linux.
Matrix
- Matrix is a protocol, not one app: features such as calls, threads and encryption depend on the client you choose.
- The public matrix.org homeserver is crowded and has usage limits; the Foundation says premium plan pricing is not yet published.
- Running your own homeserver, or paying a hosting provider, is a separate cost and effort that the Foundation does not endorse or guarantee.
- The platforms listed are those of the featured clients, which differ: Element X is mobile only, while Nheko is desktop only.
Key features
Jami
- Instant messaging and group chats
- Text chat with individuals and groups, plus audio and video message recording.
- Audio and video calls
- One-to-one calls with screen sharing and media streaming, including video conferences and rendezvous points that need no third-party hosting.
- Peer-to-peer design
- Jami says it needs no server to relay data between users and uses end-to-end encryption with perfect forward secrecy.
- Multiple devices per account
- Several devices can be linked to one Jami account, and no personal information is required to create it.
- Extension platform and SIP
- A built-in extension platform adds features, and Jami can also act as a SIP client.
Matrix
- Federation between servers
- Accounts look like @username:example.com, and people on different providers can message each other, much as email works across providers.
- Choice of client
- Matrix is only the standard; you chat through a client. The clients page lists Element, Element X, FluffyChat, Cinny and Nheko across web, desktop and mobile.
- Encryption in clients that support it
- End-to-end encryption is listed as a capability of the featured clients, including for media and calls where a client supports them.
- Spaces and threads
- Clients can browse and manage Matrix spaces to group rooms for a community, and most featured clients support threaded replies.
- Bridges to other networks
- Bridges connect Matrix rooms to platforms including Discord, Slack, Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp, Mattermost and Google Chat.
- Self-hosting or hosted providers
- Anyone can run their own homeserver, or pick from the hosting providers the Foundation lists, so an organization keeps control of its data.
Plans
Jami
Free$0
No paid plans. The site says there are no limits on file size, accounts or storage, and asks for donations.
Matrix
Free$0
Matrix.org homeserver account: 10MB per attachment and 100MB of uploads per 24 hours, up to 500MB per 28 days.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Jami or Matrix?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Jami and Matrix are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Jami or Matrix?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Jami and Matrix have a free plan.
Which platforms do Jami and Matrix run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Matrix lists a web app. Both list macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.