Element: verified facts and rating
Checked 2026-11-03
Score breakdown
71% backed by facts · How we rank
Element strengths and weaknesses
Pros
- Built-in voice or video calls
- Has a permanent free plan
- Messages are end-to-end encrypted
- Can run on your own server
Cons
—
All facts
| Fact | Value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per user per month | Not verified | — | |
| Free plan | Yes Self-hosted Element Server Suite Community: Free of charge; Includes Element Call; Get the free app | element.io | 2026-11-01 |
| Full message history on the free plan | Yes Data history: Unlimited data history. (Included in Community) | element.io | 2026-11-03 |
| Users on the free plan | Not verified | — | |
| Built-in calls | Yes Voice and video calls (Element Call): E2EE voice and video for 1:1 and group chat. | element.io | 2026-11-03 |
| Screen sharing | Not verified | — | |
| Threads | Yes Messaging: Threads, read receipts, location sharing, attachments, voice messages, polls, emojis, reactions and much more. | element.io | 2026-11-03 |
| Guest access | Not verified | — | |
| End-to-end encrypted messages | Yes End-to-end encryption: The entire platform is end-to-end encrypted by default. Configuration can enable the creation of non-encrypted chat rooms. | element.io | 2026-11-03 |
| Self-hosting | Yes Sovereign and secure communications. Self-hosted, and also available air-gapped, with powerful enterprise performance and functionality. | element.io | 2026-11-03 |
| Open source | Yes Open source under AGPL | element.io | 2026-11-01 |
| ISO 27001 or SOC 2 | Yes ISO/IEC 27001:2022: Element is independently audited and certified as compliant with the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 information security management standard. | element.io | 2026-11-03 |
| Single sign-on (SSO) | Yes Single Sign-On: OIDC authentication to support SSO. | element.io | 2026-11-03 |
| Data storage in the EU | Not verified | — | |
| Data export | Yes Data export: The ability to easily migrate your data, protecting against vendor lock-in. | element.io | 2026-11-03 |
| Message retention settings | Yes Retention policies: Configure rules-based retention policies for messages and media | element.io | 2026-11-03 |
| Founded | 2017 2017: A New Vector. The team spins out of Amdocs! New Vector Ltd is set up as an independent commercial organisation with 12 employees. | element.io | 2026-11-03 |
| Public status page | Yes Element Status: Get email notifications whenever Element creates, updates or resolves an incident. | status.element.io | 2026-11-03 |
| Company | Vector Creations Limited | itunes.apple.com | 2026-11-01 |
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