Slack vs Element
A detailed comparison of Slack and Element to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
💰 Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Slack | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ 90-day message history | ✓ Free (self-hosted or matrix.org) |
| Lowest Paid | $8.75/user/mo | $5/user/mo |
| Enterprise | $12.50/user/mo | Custom pricing |
⚡ Feature Comparison
| Feature | Slack | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | ✓ | — |
| Direct messages | ✓ | — |
| Huddles | ✓ | — |
| Clips | ✓ | — |
| Workflow Builder | ✓ | — |
| App integrations | ✓ | — |
| File sharing | ✓ | — |
| Search | ✓ | — |
| Threads | ✓ | ✓ |
| Canvas | ✓ | — |
| End-to-end encryption | — | ✓ |
| Voice & video calls | — | ✓ |
| Bridges | — | ✓ |
| Spaces | — | ✓ |
| Self-hosting | — | ✓ |
| Federation | — | ✓ |
| SSO | — | ✓ |
| Widgets | — | ✓ |
| Bots | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✗ | ✓ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4.4 | ⭐ 3.9 |
Pros & Cons
Slack
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
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 Slack if: You need teams of all sizes. Slack excels with its industry standard and massive integration ecosystem.
Choose Element if: You need privacy-focused organizations. Element stands out with its end-to-end encrypted and open protocol.
Best free option: Both Slack and Element offer free tiers. Slack offers "90-day message history" while Element offers "Free (self-hosted or matrix.org)".
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Slack better than Element?
It depends on your needs. Slack is better for teams of all sizes, while Element is better for privacy-focused organizations. Both are excellent tools rated 4.4 and 3.9 respectively.
Which is cheaper, Slack or Element?
Slack starts at $8.75/user/mo while Element starts at $5/user/mo. Both offer free tiers.
Can I switch from Slack 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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