Element

End-to-end encrypted messaging and calling app built on the open Matrix standard, with self-hosted server options.

Unclaimed

Pricing: Open source · see prices
Platforms: Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Categories: Communication, Security & privacy

About Element

Element is a messaging and collaboration app built on Matrix, a decentralised open standard for real-time communication that the Element team created in 2014 and that is now governed by The Matrix.org Foundation. It offers end-to-end encrypted chat and calls, federation between separately run servers and organisations, and options for air-gapped and low-bandwidth deployments. Element Server Suite packages a Matrix homeserver (Synapse) and related services: a free AGPL-licensed Community edition, a Pro edition with Synapse Pro and enterprise features, and an air-gapped Sovereign option. Element is aimed largely at governments and public bodies as an alternative to Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp and Signal.

Good for

Privacy-minded groups and public-sector organisations that want encrypted chat they can self-host and federate with other Matrix servers.

Watch out for

Element says its Community Synapse homeserver is not for production use and steers professional deployments to the paid Pro edition. Self-hosting a Matrix server takes some admin work.

Pricing notes

As of October 2026 the pricing page lists Element Server Suite Community as free and open source under AGPL; Enterprise (ESS Pro) is priced per seat/month and Sovereign (air-gapped) per deployment, both via sales with no public prices.

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