Mattermost vs Element
A detailed comparison of Mattermost and Element to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
Mattermost
Open-source, self-hosted Slack alternative for secure team communication.
💰 Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Mattermost | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ Free (self-hosted) | ✓ Free (self-hosted or matrix.org) |
| Lowest Paid | $10/user/mo | $5/user/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Custom pricing |
⚡ Feature Comparison
| Feature | Mattermost | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | ✓ | — |
| Direct messaging | ✓ | — |
| File sharing | ✓ | — |
| Integrations | ✓ | — |
| Playbooks | ✓ | — |
| Boards | ✓ | — |
| Self-hosting | ✓ | ✓ |
| DevOps tools | ✓ | — |
| SSO/LDAP | ✓ | — |
| Compliance | ✓ | — |
| End-to-end encryption | — | ✓ |
| Voice & video calls | — | ✓ |
| Bridges | — | ✓ |
| Spaces | — | ✓ |
| Threads | — | ✓ |
| Federation | — | ✓ |
| SSO | — | ✓ |
| Widgets | — | ✓ |
| Bots | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4.1 | ⭐ 3.9 |
Pros & Cons
Mattermost
Pros
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Self-hosted
- ✓ High security
- ✓ Slack-like interface
Cons
- ✗ Requires hosting
- ✗ Fewer integrations
- ✗ Complex setup
- ✗ Smaller ecosystem
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 Mattermost if: You need security-conscious organizations. Mattermost excels with its open source and self-hosted.
Choose Element if: You need privacy-focused organizations. Element stands out with its end-to-end encrypted and open protocol.
Best free option: Both Mattermost and Element offer free tiers. Mattermost offers "Free (self-hosted)" while Element offers "Free (self-hosted or matrix.org)".
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mattermost better than Element?
It depends on your needs. Mattermost is better for security-conscious organizations, while Element is better for privacy-focused organizations. Both are excellent tools rated 4.1 and 3.9 respectively.
Which is cheaper, Mattermost or Element?
Mattermost starts at $10/user/mo while Element starts at $5/user/mo. Both offer free tiers.
Can I switch from Mattermost 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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