# Element

> End-to-end encrypted chat and calls on the Matrix standard

Element is an end-to-end encrypted messaging and calling app built on Matrix, an open standard for decentralized communication. Individuals can use it on a free public server, while organizations self-host it with Element Server Suite: the free AGPL Community edition for up to 100 users, or the paid Pro edition. Because it runs on Matrix, an Element deployment can federate with other Matrix-based systems.

- **Category:** Team Communication
- **Made by:** Element Creations Ltd (since 2015)
- **Website:** https://element.io
- **Runs on:** Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 5, 2026

## Pricing

Element has a free plan.

- **Pricing model:** Free plan
- **Free plan:** The Element app is free for personal use on a public server, and Element Server Suite Community is a free AGPL self-hosted edition for 1 to 100 users.
- **Free trial:** None listed.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Community | $0 | Self-hosted Element Server Suite Community: open source under AGPL, for 1 to 100 users, with Element Call. Not meant for commercial production use. |
| Enterprise | Custom | Self-hosted Element Server Suite Pro from 100 users, priced per seat per month through sales: Synapse Pro, SSO, LDAP, auditing and SLA-backed support. |
| Sovereign | Custom | Air-gapped Element Server Suite Pro, priced per deployment, with a dedicated mobile push gateway and no dependence on internet connectivity. |

Read from https://element.io/pricing on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Element before buying.

## Key features

- **End-to-end encryption by default:** The platform is end-to-end encrypted by default, including voice and video, and devices are verified by QR code or an emoji string.
- **Rooms and messaging:** Rooms organize team discussions, with threads, read receipts, attachments, voice messages, polls, reactions, invite-only private rooms and unlimited history.
- **Element Call:** End-to-end encrypted voice and video for 1:1 and group conversations. Element Call is also included in the free Community server edition.
- **Matrix federation:** Built on the Matrix open standard, so separate organizations can communicate across servers and frontends. Administrators can enable or block federation.
- **Element Server Suite:** The self-hosted backend. Pro adds the Synapse Pro homeserver, auto-scaling, high availability, an admin interface, LDAP and SCIM integration, and auditing.
- **Widgets and integrations:** Interactive apps can be embedded in rooms, including a whiteboard (NeoBoard) and project management tools such as OpenProject and Jira, alongside bots.

## Good for

- Governments and regulated organizations that self-host encrypted chat
- Organizations that need air-gapped deployments
- Groups that want to federate with other Matrix servers
- Individuals and communities who want a free encrypted messenger

## Worth knowing

- No prices are published: Enterprise is priced per seat per month and Sovereign per deployment, both through sales, and Enterprise starts from 100 users.
- The free Community server edition covers 1 to 100 users and, the vendor says, is not intended for production in commercial environments.
- For organizations, the pricing page lists only self-hosted and air-gapped deployments; it does not list a plan hosted by Element.
- Whitelabelled apps and the cross domain gateway are sold as add-ons.

## Works with

NeoBoard, OpenProject, Jira

**Tags:** Team chat, Video calls, End-to-end encrypted, Open source, Self-hostable, File sharing

## Alternatives

- [Mattermost](https://toolgpa.com/tools/mattermost): Self-hosted team messaging with playbooks, calls and boards. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/element-vs-mattermost)
- [Rocket.Chat](https://toolgpa.com/tools/rocket-chat): Open-source, self-managed chat for security-focused teams. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/element-vs-rocket-chat)
- [Zulip](https://toolgpa.com/tools/zulip): Open-source team chat that organizes channels by topic. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/element-vs-zulip)
- [Wire](https://toolgpa.com/tools/wire): End-to-end encrypted messaging and calls for organizations. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/element-vs-wire)
- [Slack](https://toolgpa.com/tools/slack): Channel-based team messaging with huddles, workflows and AI. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/element-vs-slack)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026:

- https://element.io/pricing
- https://element.io/app
- https://element.io/download
- https://element.io/server-suite/community
- https://element.io/integrations
- https://try.element.io/get-started
- https://element.io/about

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/element
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).