Founded
2017
Starting Price
$0
Category
Collaboration
Last updated March 5, 2026
About Element
Element is a secure, decentralized messaging and collaboration platform built on the open Matrix protocol, offering end-to-end encryption by default across all conversations. It enables organizations to maintain full digital sovereignty by self-hosting their own homeserver or using Element's managed cloud, without vendor lock-in. Trusted by governments, defense agencies, and enterprises across 25+ countries, Element bridges secure internal communications with cross-organizational federation.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- True data sovereignty — organizations own all data; self-hosting means no third-party access
- Open source and auditable — entire stack is open source, enabling independent security audits
- Cross-organizational federation — communicate securely with external partners on different servers
- No single point of failure — decentralized architecture means no central server outage takes down comms
- Used and trusted by governments and defense agencies in 25+ countries
Key Features
End-to-End Encryption
All messages and calls are encrypted by default using the Matrix Olm/Megolm protocol, ensuring only participants can decrypt content.
Self-Hosting & Sovereignty
Organizations can run their own Synapse homeserver on their infrastructure, retaining full data ownership.
Federation
Communicate securely across different organizations and Matrix homeservers without all parties needing the same platform.
Voice & Video Calls
Supports unlimited 1:1 and group calls via the built-in Element Call feature, powered by WebRTC.
Spaces & Room Management
Organize conversations into hierarchical Spaces with granular access control and permissions for teams.
Cross-Platform Clients
Native apps for Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android with synchronized message history.
LDAP/Active Directory Integration
Enterprise plans support SSO and LDAP/AD authentication for centralized identity management.
Pricing
Community
$0
- Up to 100 users
- Self-hosted deployment
- Open-source Synapse homeserver
- Element web and desktop
- Element Call (voice and video)
Best For
Government & Defense Communications
Agencies requiring classified communications use Element's air-gapped Sovereign tier for fully isolated messaging.
Cross-Organizational Collaboration
Enterprises working with external partners communicate securely via Matrix federation without sharing a vendor.
Regulated Industry Compliance
Healthcare, finance, and legal organizations use compliance controls (audit logs, retention, SSO) to meet regulations.
Open Source Community Coordination
Developer communities use the free tier to host self-governed team communication without corporate platforms.
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Featured In
#3
7 Best Open-Source Team Communication Platforms You Can Self-Host (2026)
Best for organizations where security, federation, and data sovereignty are non-negotiable. If you need to communicate across organizational boundaries without trusting a shared vendor, Element is the only real option.
#4
5 Tools That Stop Your Team From Using Personal WhatsApp for Work (2026)
Best for maximum security and sovereignty — Element's end-to-end encryption and decentralized architecture are unmatched, but the UX trade-off means it works best for organizations where security requirements override usability preferences.
