2 Best Element Alternatives in 2025
Last updated: February 2026 • 7 min read
Element is a popular tool for privacy-focused organizations. While it offers a free tier (Free (self-hosted or matrix.org)), its paid plans start at $5/user/mo. Whether you're looking for a cheaper option, better features, or an open-source solution, we've compiled the 2 best Element alternatives to help you find the right fit.
📋 Quick Summary
- Total alternatives: 2
- Free alternatives: 2 (Slack, Mattermost)
- Open-source options: Mattermost
- Best overall: Slack
- Best free: Slack
Why Look for Element Alternatives?
People commonly look for Element alternatives for several reasons:
- Cost: While Element has a free tier, its paid plans starting at $5/user/mo can add up quickly for growing teams.
- Feature gaps: Complex setup and smaller user base are common complaints.
- Simplicity: Some users find Element overly complex for their needs and prefer simpler solutions.
- Better fit: Different tools excel at different use cases — you may find a tool that's specifically built for your workflow.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Tier | Starting Price | Rating | Open Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Element | ✓ Free (self-hosted or matrix.org) | $5/user/mo | ⭐ 3.9 | ✓ Yes | Privacy-focused organizations |
| Slack | ✓ 90-day message history | $8.75/user/mo | ⭐ 4.4 | No | Teams of all sizes |
| Mattermost | ✓ Free (self-hosted) | $10/user/mo | ⭐ 4.1 | ✓ Yes | Security-conscious organizations |
Detailed Reviews of Each Alternative
Slack
Business communication platform for team messaging and collaboration.
Slack is the leading business communication platform, used by millions of teams worldwide for messaging, file sharing, and integrating with other work tools. Now owned by Salesforce, Slack has defined the category of team messaging with its channel-based communication model, extensive app integrations, and searchable message history.
Pros
- ✓ Industry standard
- ✓ Massive integration ecosystem
- ✓ Great search
- ✓ Familiar to most teams
Cons
- ✗ Expensive at scale
- ✗ Can be distracting
- ✗ Limited free plan now
- ✗ Message history limits
Mattermost
Open-source, self-hosted Slack alternative for secure team communication.
Mattermost is an open-source messaging platform that provides a secure, self-hosted alternative to Slack. It's popular among organizations with strict security requirements, including government agencies and financial institutions. Mattermost offers channels, direct messaging, file sharing, and integrations while keeping all data under your control.
Pros
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Self-hosted
- ✓ High security
- ✓ Slack-like interface
Cons
- ✗ Requires hosting
- ✗ Fewer integrations
- ✗ Complex setup
- ✗ Smaller ecosystem
🏆 Our Recommendations
Best Overall Alternative:
Slack — Teams of all sizes
Best Free Alternative:
Slack — 90-day message history
Best Open-Source Alternative:
Mattermost — Security-conscious organizations
❓ FAQ
What is the best free alternative to Element?
The best free alternative to Element is Slack, which offers 90-day message history.
Is there an open-source alternative to Element?
Yes! Mattermost is open-source alternative to Element that you can self-host for free.
What is the cheapest alternative to Element?
The cheapest alternatives are the free options: Slack, Mattermost. For paid alternatives, prices start from as low as $8.75/mo.
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