Secure, decentralized messaging built on the Matrix protocol
Element is a messaging app from the team that created Matrix, an open standard for decentralized, federated chat. Rooms, direct messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted, and people on different Matrix servers can talk to each other like email. Individuals can join a public server for free, while organizations and governments self-host or buy Element's enterprise server suite, with bridges to other chat networks.
- features
- 5
- alternatives
- 12
- platforms
- 7
- Updated
- Oct 12, 2026
Features
Our take
Pros
- End-to-end encryption by default for private rooms and messages
- Federated Matrix network, so no single company controls your chats
- Open source and self-hostable, popular with public sector bodies
Cons
- Encryption keys and device verification can confuse newcomers
- Running your own Matrix server takes real technical effort
- Fewer business integrations than mainstream team chat apps
Editorial assessment by the Alternatives.tools team, based on what the product is known for. Not a user review.
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ZulipFreemiumOpen sourceOpen-source team chat organized by conversation topics
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