The Matrix Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Matrix in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Matrix
The Insider’s Guide
Open, decentralized network for chat and calls
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among team communication apps, read from Matrix’s own pages.
Made by The Matrix.org Foundation · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Matrix’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Matrix’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 41 of the 50 other team communication apps we grade
Matrix is an open standard for decentralized communication, run by the Matrix.org Foundation. Accounts live on a server, called a homeserver, that can be the public matrix.org one or one you host yourself, and people on different servers can talk to each other. You chat through a client app such as Element, and bridges connect rooms to Slack, Discord and other networks.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Matrix, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It is a protocol rather than one app, so features depend on the client you choose, and the public server is crowded and capped.
- 1
Best for open, federated chat you can host yourself
Matrix is an open standard for chat and calls where accounts live on a server, public or your own, and people on different servers can talk.
- 2
It is free
Matrix has no paid plan at all. The protocol is free to use, and the Foundation runs a free public matrix.org homeserver with usage limits on attachments and data.
- 3
It runs on 6 platforms
Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android.
- 4
Federation between servers
Accounts look like @username:example.com, and people on different providers can message each other, much as email works across providers.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 41 of 50
That is against the other team communication apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Matrix is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Matrix at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Made by
- The Matrix.org Foundation, since 2014
- Category
- Team Communication
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for open, federated chat you can host yourself
Matrix is an open standard for chat and calls where accounts live on a server, public or your own, and people on different servers can talk. It is a protocol rather than one app, so features depend on the client you choose, and the public server is crowded and capped.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | The 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 | B | The 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 | C | Federation, 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 | C | No store rating on record. You pick a homeserver and a client before you start, so there is some learning. |
| Platforms and integrations | A | Web, 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. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Matrix is for
- Fits if you want chat that no single company controls
- Works for communities that want to run their own server
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Organizations that want to own their chat data on their own domain
- Communities coming from Discord or Slack who want an open alternative
- Developers building chat features on an open protocol
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Matrix is free to use.
The protocol and its clients are free to use, and the Foundation runs a free public matrix.org homeserver.
Free
$0
Matrix.org homeserver account: 10MB per attachment and 100MB of uploads per 24 hours, up to 500MB per 28 days.
The free plan
The protocol is free to use, and the Foundation runs a free public matrix.org homeserver with usage limits on attachments and data.
Read from matrix.org on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
6
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android
Open, decentralized network for chat and calls. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, end-to-end encrypted, team chat.
Federation, a choice of clients, spaces, threads and bridges to Slack and Discord.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Discord
- Slack
- Signal
- Telegram
- Mattermost
- Google Chat
Matrix is made by The Matrix.org Foundation, and has been around since 2014.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
41/50
Other team communication apps it is graded above
Matrix's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 41 of the 50 other team communication apps we grade, and level with 3.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 41 of 50) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Matrix has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 51 team communication apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Matrix’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 41 of 50
- BFree plan and trialAbove 29 of 50
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 50
- CEase of useAbove 7 of 50
- APlatforms and integrationsAbove 28 of 50
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 45 team communication apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Matrix is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Matrix is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 41 of the 50 other team communication apps we grade.
What you could not
- Chat that a whole team counts on staying up.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Discord, Slack and Signal among them.
- End-to-end encryption done properly.
What this rests on. Matrix’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Element, Zulip, Mattermost, Rocket.Chat and Wire
The 5 tools Matrix is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Element
Free plan
End-to-end encrypted chat and calls on the Matrix standard.
- Element also covers video calls and file sharing.
- 2.8GPA
Zulip
Free plan · from $3.50/mo
Open-source team chat that organizes channels by topic.
- Matrix is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Zulip also covers file sharing.
- 2.4GPA
Mattermost
Free plan
Self-hosted team messaging with playbooks, calls and boards.
- Matrix is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Mattermost also covers kanban boards, workflow automation and AI agents.
- 2.4GPA
Rocket.Chat
Free plan
Open-source, self-managed chat for security-focused teams.
- Rocket.Chat also covers file sharing.
- 2.0GPA
Wire
Free plan · from €7.45/mo
End-to-end encrypted messaging and calls for organizations.
- Wire also covers video calls and file sharing.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Matrix free?
Yes. Matrix is free to use.
How much does Matrix cost?
Matrix lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Matrix work on?
Matrix is available on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android.
Is Matrix open source?
Yes. Matrix is open source, according to its own site.
Is Matrix end-to-end encrypted?
Matrix describes itself as end-to-end encrypted on its own site. Nobody here has audited that.
What does Matrix integrate with?
Matrix's listing names Discord, Slack, Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp, Mattermost and Google Chat.
Who makes Matrix?
Matrix is made by The Matrix.org Foundation. It dates from 2014.
What are the alternatives to Matrix?
The closest alternatives to Matrix in our directory are Element, Zulip, Mattermost, Rocket.Chat and Wire.
How does Matrix compare with other team communication apps?
Matrix's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 41 of the 50 other team communication apps we grade, and level with 3.
Is Matrix good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Matrix A for value for money. Matrix has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Matrix?
Matrix is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Matrix’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Matrix's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by The Matrix.org Foundation. Prices change, so check matrix.org before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Matrix, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/matrix
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Matrix: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/matrix
Know someone choosing between team communication apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/matrix/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded team communication apps after Matrix, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Team Communication Insider's GuideEvery one of the 51 team communication apps we grade, compared
- Discord Insider's GuideFree text, voice and video chat built around servers3.6 GPA
- Pumble Insider's GuideTeam chat with unlimited message history on the free plan3.6 GPA
- Zoho Cliq Insider's GuideTeam chat, calls and meetings from the Zoho suite3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Matrix’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Matrix is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by The Matrix.org Foundation. Prices and plans change: check matrix.org before you buy.