Element
A messenger built on the open Matrix standard, which you can host yourself.
Instead of Slack, Teams and WhatsApp
Screenshot from element.io, taken 2026-10-23, shown to help you recognise the tool. It belongs to its maker. Ask us to remove it.
Element is a messaging and collaboration app built on Matrix, an open and decentralised standard that its makers compare to email for real-time chat, because different providers can talk to each other. The Matrix.org Foundation governs the standard and Element Creations Ltd owns the Element name, so there is both a community and a company behind it. Messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted, and organisations can host it themselves.
Because the standard is open, you can move to another provider without losing your place, and the system keeps working if one company goes away. The price is a rougher first experience than WhatsApp for newcomers, and self-hosting asks for real technical skill. We could not confirm its licence or the limits of its free tier from its site.
- Built on Matrix, an open standard that different providers share
- Messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted
- You can host it yourself and move providers without losing your place
What stands out
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For comparison, we also reviewed WhatsApp (14/30) as a benchmark.
