Discord vs Element
A detailed comparison of Discord and Element to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
Discord
Communication platform originally for gamers, now used by communities and teams.
💰 Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Discord | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ Free with all core features | ✓ Free (self-hosted or matrix.org) |
| Lowest Paid | $2.99/mo (Nitro Basic) | $5/user/mo |
| Enterprise | N/A | Custom pricing |
⚡ Feature Comparison
| Feature | Discord | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Voice channels | ✓ | — |
| Text channels | ✓ | — |
| Forums | ✓ | — |
| Stage channels | ✓ | — |
| Bots | ✓ | ✓ |
| Screen sharing | ✓ | — |
| Server roles | ✓ | — |
| Threads | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apps | ✓ | — |
| Community features | ✓ | — |
| End-to-end encryption | — | ✓ |
| Voice & video calls | — | ✓ |
| Bridges | — | ✓ |
| Spaces | — | ✓ |
| Self-hosting | — | ✓ |
| Federation | — | ✓ |
| SSO | — | ✓ |
| Widgets | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✗ | ✓ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4.5 | ⭐ 3.9 |
Pros & Cons
Discord
Pros
- ✓ Mostly free
- ✓ Great voice quality
- ✓ Bot ecosystem
- ✓ Community features
Cons
- ✗ Not business-focused
- ✗ Can be distracting
- ✗ No professional features
- ✗ Server management complex
Element
Pros
- ✓ End-to-end encrypted
- ✓ Open protocol
- ✓ Bridges to other apps
- ✓ Self-hostable
Cons
- ✗ Complex setup
- ✗ Smaller user base
- ✗ UI needs work
- ✗ Performance issues
🏆 The Verdict
Choose Discord if: You need communities and informal team communication. Discord excels with its mostly free and great voice quality.
Choose Element if: You need privacy-focused organizations. Element stands out with its end-to-end encrypted and open protocol.
Best free option: Both Discord and Element offer free tiers. Discord offers "Free with all core features" while Element offers "Free (self-hosted or matrix.org)".
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Discord better than Element?
It depends on your needs. Discord is better for communities and informal team communication, while Element is better for privacy-focused organizations. Both are excellent tools rated 4.5 and 3.9 respectively.
Which is cheaper, Discord or Element?
Discord starts at $2.99/mo (Nitro Basic) while Element starts at $5/user/mo. Both offer free tiers.
Can I switch from Discord to Element?
Most tools offer import/export features to help you migrate. We recommend trying Element's free tier before fully committing to a switch.
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