The pick when privacy and control come first: encrypted by default and federated, at the cost of a less playful app and real work if you run your own server.
What it is
Element is the main app for Matrix, an open, federated chat protocol: you can join the public matrix.org server for free or run your own homeserver that still talks to everyone else, much like email. Messages, voice and video calls (Element Call) are end-to-end encrypted by default, and no phone number is needed. Rooms and spaces stand in for Discord channels and servers, with threads, reactions, polls and bridges to other networks, including Discord. Clients for web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android (Element X). Self-hosting: Element Server Suite Community is free and open source (AGPL) for 1 to 100 users, for non-professional use; Element Server Suite Pro for organizations is priced per seat through sales. The public matrix.org server limits free uploads to 10 MB. No custom emoji out of the box. Checked November 2026.
Best for
- Privacy-minded groups and communities
- Teams that want to own their server and data
- Bridging a community across Discord and Matrix while it moves
What we like
- End-to-end encryption on by default, calls included
- Federated: no single company can shut your community down
- Free self-hosted edition and free public servers
What to watch
- Less playful than Discord: no custom emoji by default, plainer community features
- Running your own homeserver is real setup and upkeep
- Encryption makes moderation and search across rooms harder
- Business pricing is not published
Where Element ranks
Alternatives and head-to-heads
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