Element
Team Chat & Messaging · element.io
Element is a Matrix-based, end-to-end encrypted messaging and collaboration platform available as a self-hosted or air-gapped server suite with enterprise editions.
We only list alternatives we can defend with sourced pricing data.
Top Element alternatives
We compared 12 products and found 12 alternatives · Element pricing is still being verified, so savings are not computed yet · scenario: 10 seats, monthly billing, USD.
Element’s own free plan covers this scenario. If you’re paying for features you don’t use, downgrading beats switching. The paid comparison below is for when you’ve outgrown free tiers — the “Free plans” view shows alternatives if you want free with different limits.
We list 12 assessed alternatives; Element's own price is not verified yet, so no cheaper-than claim is made. Element's own free plan covers this scenario, so downgrading may beat switching.
| Product | Match | Price | Annual savings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Discord Nitro Basic plan · missing: Channels & group messaging, Threaded conversations, Unlimited message history, App integrations, Compliance exports & audit logs, Self-hosted deployment | 14% | $2.99/mo how? ⓘ | — | |
TOP PICK Zulip Self-hosted Basic plan · missing: Unlimited message history | 86% | $3.50/mo how? ⓘ | — | |
Zoho Cliq Standard plan · missing: Unlimited message history, Compliance exports & audit logs, Self-hosted deployment | 57% | $18/mo how? ⓘ | — | |
Pumble PRO plan · missing: Compliance exports & audit logs, Self-hosted deployment | 71% | $29.90/mo how? ⓘ | — | |
Chanty Business plan · missing: Threaded conversations | 86% | $40/mo how? ⓘ | — | |
Microsoft Teams Teams Essentials plan · missing: Threaded conversations, Unlimited message history, App integrations, Compliance exports & audit logs, Self-hosted deployment collaboration suite — adjacent | 29% | $40/mo how? ⓘ | — | |
Flock PRO plan · missing: Threaded conversations, Self-hosted deployment | 71% | $45/mo how? ⓘ | — | |
Twist Unlimited plan · missing: Audio/video calls & screen sharing, Compliance exports & audit logs, Self-hosted deployment | 57% | $60/mo how? ⓘ | — | |
Google Workspace Business Starter plan · missing: Threaded conversations, Unlimited message history, App integrations, Self-hosted deployment collaboration suite — adjacent | 43% | $70/mo how? ⓘ | — | |
Slack Pro plan · missing: Self-hosted deployment | 86% | $87.50/mo how? ⓘ | — |
Which Element alternative for which situation
Picked by the numbers in this scenario — same subtype unless stated, assessed products only.
- Best free plan
- Slack — $0/mo (Free plan) · covers 86%
- Best open source or self-hosted
- Rocket.Chat — $0/mo (Starter plan) · covers 86%
- Best paid drop-in
- Chanty — $40/mo (Business plan) · covers 86%
- Need channels & group messaging, threaded conversations, unlimited message history, audio/video calls & screen sharing, app integrations or compliance exports & audit logs?
- Slack — from $0/mo (Free plan)
- Need self-hosted deployment?
- Rocket.Chat — from $0/mo (Starter plan)
What you give up
Capabilities Element has that the top alternatives lack.
- Unlimited message history — Search and access message history without a retention limit.Missing from Rocket.Chat, Zulip, Mattermost.
- Audio/video calls & screen sharing — Make audio or video calls with screen sharing.Missing from Mattermost.
- Self-hosted deployment — Run the chat platform on your own infrastructure.Missing from Slack.
Price at your volume
The same comparison recomputed at three sizes. Plan caps change who is cheapest.
Feature comparison
Element vs the top alternatives, on the 7 compared capabilities.
| Capability | Element | Slack | Rocket.Chat | Zulip | Mattermost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Channels & group messaging from Community | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Threaded conversations from Community | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Unlimited message history from Community | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Audio/video calls & screen sharing from Community | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| App integrations from Community | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Compliance exports & audit logs from Enterprise | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Self-hosted deployment from Community | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scenario price cheapest qualifying plan | — | $0/mo Free | $0/mo Starter | $0/mo Zulip Cloud Free | $0/mo Entry |
✓ means the product offers the capability — possibly only on a higher tier than the plan priced below it. The price row shows the cheapest plan that qualifies for our comparison scenario, with its plan name; a $0 free plan may not include every checked capability.
What Element covers
The capability set used for comparison. Grey entries are not available on self-serve plans.
- ✓ Channels & group messaging — from Community
- ✓ Threaded conversations — from Community
- ✓ Unlimited message history — from Community
- ✓ Audio/video calls & screen sharing — from Community
- ✓ App integrations — from Community
- ✓ Compliance exports & audit logs — from Enterprise
- ✓ Self-hosted deployment — from Community
- ✗ Workflow automation
- ✗ AI search & summaries
Price ladder
Observed prices from the official pricing page.
Sources
Every claim traces to an official source and a check date.
- https://element.io/pricing (official_pricing, checked 2026-09-07)
Frequently asked
Is there a free Element alternative?
Yes. Slack has a free plan that covers 86% of the 7 capabilities we compared against Element.
What is the cheapest Element alternative?
In our scenario (10 seats, monthly billing), Slack is the cheapest assessed alternative at $0/mo (Free plan).
What is the cheapest Element alternative with Unlimited message history?
Slack covers Unlimited message history and costs $0/mo (Free plan) in our scenario.
Does Element have a free plan?
Yes. Element's free plan exists; its limits are not stated on the pricing page.
When were these prices checked?
Between 2026-08-25 and 2026-09-07, on the vendors' official pricing pages.
