Wire vs Element: which is better? Comparison 2026
By our public methodology Wire scores 77 out of 100 and Element scores 66. Below: the factors and facts where they differ, each fact with its source.
Score breakdown
| Wire | Element | |
|---|---|---|
| Price and free plan | 50 | 50 |
| Communication | 80 | 60 |
| Security and data control | 100 | 88 |
| Track record | 80 | 63 |
Pros and cons
Wire
- Built-in voice or video calls
- Has a permanent free plan
- Messages are end-to-end encrypted
- Can run on your own server
Element
- Built-in voice or video calls
- Has a permanent free plan
- Messages are end-to-end encrypted
- Can run on your own server
Facts side by side
| Fact | Wire | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Price per user per month | $10.03 wire.com | Not verified |
| Free plan | Yes wire.com | Yes element.io |
| Full message history on the free plan | Not verified | Yes element.io |
| Users on the free plan | 5 wire.com | Not verified |
| Built-in calls | Yes wire.com | Yes element.io |
| Screen sharing | Yes wire.com | Not verified |
| Threads | Not verified | Yes element.io |
| Guest access | Yes wire.com | Not verified |
| End-to-end encrypted messages | Yes wire.com | Yes element.io |
| Self-hosting | Yes wire.com | Yes element.io |
| Open source | Yes wire.com | Yes element.io |
| ISO 27001 or SOC 2 | Yes wire.com | Yes element.io |
| Single sign-on (SSO) | Yes wire.com | Yes element.io |
| Data storage in the EU | Yes wire.com | Not verified |
| Data export | Not verified | Yes element.io |
| Message retention settings | Not verified | Yes element.io |
| Founded | 2012 wire.com | 2017 element.io |
| Public status page | Yes status.wire.com | Yes status.element.io |
| Company | Wire Group Holdings GmbH wire.com | Vector Creations Limited itunes.apple.com |